Linux Kernel up to 6.12.30/6.14.8 ptp signal_out/freq_in uninitialized pointer

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as problematic has been identified in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.30/6.14.8. Impacted is an unknown function of the component ptp. Executing a manipulation of the argument signal_out/freq_in can lead to uninitialized pointer. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2025-38054. There is not any exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.30/6.14.8. It has been declared as problematic. This vulnerability affects an unknown code block of the component ptp. The manipulation of the argument signal_out/freq_in with an unknown input leads to a uninitialized pointer vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-824. The product accesses or uses a pointer that has not been initialized. The impact remains unknown. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ptp: ocp: Limit signal/freq counts in summary output functions The debugfs summary output could access uninitialized elements in the freq_in[] and signal_out[] arrays, causing NULL pointer dereferences and triggering a kernel Oops (page_fault_oops). This patch adds u8 fields (nr_freq_in, nr_signal_out) to track the number of initialized elements, with a maximum of 4 per array. The summary output functions are updated to respect these limits, preventing out-of-bounds access and ensuring safe array handling. Widen the label variables because the change confuses GCC about max length of the strings.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-38054 since 04/16/2025. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 242347 (Oracle Linux 9 : Unbreakable Enterprise kernel (ELSA-2025-20480)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.12.31 or 6.14.9 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 0b7d3e782027ac3b6fec56159e8e348042000aef/fcad74f894ac89790084cc2e1ec61b08220941d1/c9e455581e2ba87ee38c126e8dc49a424b9df0cf 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 (242347) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1350). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• SUSE openSUSE
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Dell Avamar
• 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
• 6.12.23
• 6.12.24
• 6.12.25
• 6.12.26
• 6.12.27
• 6.12.28
• 6.12.29
• 6.12.30
• 6.14.0
• 6.14.1
• 6.14.2
• 6.14.3
• 6.14.4
• 6.14.5
• 6.14.6
• 6.14.7
• 6.14.8

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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