CVE-2025-40029 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
bus: fsl-mc: Check return value of platform_get_resource()
platform_get_resource() returns NULL in case of failure, so check its return value and propagate the error in order to prevent NULL pointer dereference.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-40029 represents a critical null pointer dereference flaw within the Linux kernel's Freescale Management Complex driver implementation. This issue specifically affects the fsl-mc bus driver which handles communication with Freescale's management complex hardware components. The vulnerability arises from insufficient error handling in the platform device resource acquisition process, creating a potential crash condition that could be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt system operations or potentially escalate privileges.
The technical root cause stems from the improper validation of platform_get_resource() function return values within the fsl-mc driver code. This function is responsible for retrieving hardware resource information from platform device descriptions and returns NULL when resource acquisition fails. The flaw occurs because the driver code fails to check whether this function successfully obtained the required resources before proceeding with operations that assume valid resource pointers. When platform_get_resource() returns NULL due to resource unavailability or configuration errors, subsequent code attempts to dereference this null pointer, leading to kernel crashes or undefined behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability, as it represents a potential denial of service condition that could affect embedded systems and industrial control platforms that rely heavily on Freescale management complex hardware. Systems utilizing the fsl-mc bus driver, particularly those in automotive, networking, and industrial automation domains, face increased risk of unexpected system termination when encountering platform device configuration issues or resource allocation failures. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which specifically addresses null pointer dereference conditions in software implementations, and could potentially be leveraged by attackers to create persistent denial of service scenarios that might be difficult to diagnose and recover from automatically.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate kernel updates that incorporate proper error handling for the platform_get_resource() function calls within the fsl-mc driver. System administrators should prioritize applying security patches that implement return value validation and appropriate error propagation mechanisms. The fix should ensure that when platform_get_resource() returns NULL, the driver properly handles this condition by returning appropriate error codes to the caller rather than proceeding with null pointer dereference operations. Additionally, monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual kernel crashes or resource allocation failures that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper error handling in kernel space code and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network disruption through resource exhaustion or invalid memory access patterns. Organizations should conduct thorough testing of patched kernels to ensure that the error handling changes do not introduce regressions in legitimate platform device functionality while maintaining the security improvements.