Linux Kernel up to 6.12.28/6.14.6/6.15-rc5 zpci_create_device null pointer dereference

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.28/6.14.6/6.15-rc5. It has been classified as critical. This impacts the function zpci_create_device. This manipulation causes null pointer dereference. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-37974. There is no exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.28/6.14.6/6.15-rc5. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function zpci_create_device. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is 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. As an impact it is known to affect availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: s390/pci: Fix missing check for zpci_create_device() error return The zpci_create_device() function returns an error pointer that needs to be checked before dereferencing it as a struct zpci_dev pointer. Add the missing check in __clp_add() where it was missed when adding the scan_list in the fixed commit. Simply not adding the device to the scan list results in the previous behavior.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-37974 since 04/16/2025. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 240824 (SUSE SLES15 / openSUSE 15 Security Update : kernel (SUSE-SU-2025:01965-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.12.29, 6.14.7 or 6.15-rc6 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch be54b750c333a9db7c3b3686846bb06b07b011fe/2769b718e164df983c20c314b263a71a699be6cd/42420c50c68f3e95e90de2479464f420602229fc 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 (240824) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1114). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• SUSE openSUSE
• Dell Avamar
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• Dell NetWorker
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway

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
• 6.12.23
• 6.12.24
• 6.12.25
• 6.12.26
• 6.12.27
• 6.12.28
• 6.14.0
• 6.14.1
• 6.14.2
• 6.14.3
• 6.14.4
• 6.14.5
• 6.14.6
• 6.15-rc1
• 6.15-rc2
• 6.15-rc3
• 6.15-rc4
• 6.15-rc5

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Exploitinginfo

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Entryinfo

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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