Linux Kernel up to 6.12.22/6.13.10/6.14.1 alloc_preauth_hash null pointer dereference

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.22/6.13.10/6.14.1. The impacted element is the function alloc_preauth_hash. Performing a manipulation results in null pointer dereference. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-22037. There is no available exploit. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.22/6.13.10/6.14.1. This affects the function alloc_preauth_hash. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. This is going to have an impact on availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ksmbd: fix null pointer dereference in alloc_preauth_hash() The Client send malformed smb2 negotiate request. ksmbd return error response. Subsequently, the client can send smb2 session setup even thought conn->preauth_info is not allocated. This patch add KSMBD_SESS_NEED_SETUP status of connection to ignore session setup request if smb2 negotiate phase is not complete.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-22037 since 12/29/2024. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 240657 (Ubuntu 25.04 : Linux kernel vulnerabilities (USN-7594-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.12.23, 6.13.11, 6.14.2 or 6.15-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch ca8bed31edf728a662ef9d6f39f50e7a7dc2b5ad/8f216b33a5e1b3489c073b1ea1b3d7cb63c8dc4d/b8eb243e670ecf30e91524dd12f7260dac07d335/c8b5b7c5da7d0c31c9b7190b4a7bba5281fc4780 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (240657), EUVD (EUVD-2025-11252) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-0844). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Google Container-Optimized OS
• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• SUSE openSUSE
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• Dell Avamar
• SolarWinds Security Event Manager
• Dell NetWorker
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway
• IBM QRadar SIEM

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.12.0
• 6.12.1
• 6.12.2
• 6.12.3
• 6.12.4
• 6.12.5
• 6.12.6
• 6.12.7
• 6.12.8
• 6.12.9
• 6.12.10
• 6.12.11
• 6.12.12
• 6.12.13
• 6.12.14
• 6.12.15
• 6.12.16
• 6.12.17
• 6.12.18
• 6.12.19
• 6.12.20
• 6.12.21
• 6.12.22
• 6.13.0
• 6.13.1
• 6.13.2
• 6.13.3
• 6.13.4
• 6.13.5
• 6.13.6
• 6.13.7
• 6.13.8
• 6.13.9
• 6.13.10
• 6.14.0
• 6.14.1

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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