CVE-2025-71083 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 01/13/2026
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
drm/ttm: Avoid NULL pointer deref for evicted BOs
It is possible for a BO to exist that is not currently associated with a resource, e.g. because it has been evicted.
When devcoredump tries to read the contents of all BOs for dumping, we need to expect this as well -- in this case, ENODATA is recorded instead of the buffer contents.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-71083 affects the Linux kernel's direct rendering manager and translation table manager subsystems, specifically within the graphics driver framework. This issue represents a null pointer dereference condition that occurs during device core dump operations when processing buffer objects that have been evicted from memory. The flaw exists in the interaction between the drm/ttm subsystem and the devcoredump mechanism, which is responsible for capturing diagnostic information from device drivers during critical failures or system crashes. When the kernel attempts to collect and dump the contents of all buffer objects for debugging purposes, it fails to properly handle cases where buffer objects have been evicted from their associated memory resources, leading to potential system instability or crashes.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of buffer object states within the graphics driver subsystem. Buffer objects in the drm/ttm framework can exist in various states including active, evicted, or pending destruction. When a buffer object is evicted, it may no longer be associated with its original memory resource while still maintaining a reference in the system. During device core dump operations, the devcoredump subsystem attempts to read the contents of all buffer objects without properly checking whether they remain valid or have been evicted. This scenario creates a null pointer dereference condition that can result in kernel panics or system crashes, particularly when the system is under memory pressure or during normal operation when buffer eviction occurs. The vulnerability manifests as an insufficient validation mechanism that fails to account for the possibility of accessing memory resources that have been freed or relocated by the memory management subsystem.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes to potentially compromise the stability and reliability of graphics-intensive applications and systems. When triggered, this vulnerability can cause unexpected system panics during device core dump operations, which are typically invoked during system failures or when debugging graphics driver issues. The vulnerability affects systems running Linux kernels with drm/ttm subsystems, particularly those handling graphics workloads that involve frequent buffer allocation and deallocation. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability to cause denial of service conditions, forcing system reboots or rendering graphics functionality unavailable. The impact is particularly significant in server environments or embedded systems where graphics processing is critical to system operation, as well as in virtualized environments where graphics resources are shared among multiple virtual machines. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which describes null pointer dereference conditions, and represents a classic case of insufficient input validation in kernel space code.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-71083 should focus on implementing proper state validation before accessing buffer object contents during core dump operations. The primary fix involves modifying the devcoredump subsystem to properly check whether buffer objects have been evicted before attempting to read their contents, returning ENODATA instead of attempting to dereference null pointers. System administrators should ensure their kernels are updated with the patched version that includes the null pointer validation fix. Organizations using Linux systems with graphics workloads should monitor for kernel updates and apply patches promptly, particularly in environments where system stability is critical. The fix should be tested in staging environments before deployment to ensure compatibility with existing graphics applications and driver configurations. Additionally, system monitoring should be implemented to detect potential crashes or instability related to graphics driver operations, as the vulnerability may manifest differently depending on system load and memory pressure conditions. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper resource state management in kernel space code and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1489 which covers system shutdown/reboot attacks, as the potential for system crashes represents a denial of service vector that could be exploited in certain scenarios.