Linux Kernel up to 6.15.3 ch9200 mii_nway_restart return value

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5.4	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as problematic has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.15.3. Affected is the function mii_nway_restart of the component ch9200. Such manipulation leads to return value. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2025-38086. There is no exploit available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.15.3. It has been rated as problematic. Affected by this issue is the function mii_nway_restart of the component ch9200. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a return value vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-252. The product does not check the return value from a method or function, which can prevent it from detecting unexpected states and conditions. The impact remains unknown. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: ch9200: fix uninitialised access during mii_nway_restart In mii_nway_restart() the code attempts to call mii->mdio_read which is ch9200_mdio_read(). ch9200_mdio_read() utilises a local buffer called "buff", which is initialised with control_read(). However "buff" is conditionally initialised inside control_read(): if (err == size) { memcpy(data, buf, size); } If the condition of "err == size" is not met, then "buff" remains uninitialised. Once this happens the uninitialised "buff" is accessed and returned during ch9200_mdio_read(): return (buff[0] | buff[1] << 8); The problem stems from the fact that ch9200_mdio_read() ignores the return value of control_read(), leading to uinit-access of "buff". To fix this we should check the return value of control_read() and return early on error.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2025-38086 since 04/16/2025. The exploitation is known to be easy. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 01/30/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 242437 (RHEL 8 : kernel-rt (RHSA-2025:11456)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.4.295, 5.10.239, 5.15.186, 6.1.142, 6.6.95, 6.12.35, 6.15.4 or 6.16-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 119766de4930ff40db9f36b960cb53b0c400e81b/33163c68d2e3061fa3935b5f0a1867958b1cdbd2/9da3e442714f7f4393ff01c265c4959c03e88c2f/9a350f30d65197354706b7759b5c89d6c267b1a9/6bd2569d0b2f918e9581f744df0263caf73ee76c/4da7fcc098218ff92b2e83a43f545c02f714cedd/cdaa6d1cb2ff1219c6c822b27655dd170ffb0f72/9ad0452c0277b816a435433cca601304cfac7c21 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 (242437), EUVD (EUVD-2025-19447) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1417). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• SUSE openSUSE
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• IBM DataPower Gateway
• Dell NetWorker

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.4.294
• 5.10.238
• 5.15.185
• 6.1.141
• 6.6.0
• 6.6.1
• 6.6.2
• 6.6.3
• 6.6.4
• 6.6.5
• 6.6.6
• 6.6.7
• 6.6.8
• 6.6.9
• 6.6.10
• 6.6.11
• 6.6.12
• 6.6.13
• 6.6.14
• 6.6.15
• 6.6.16
• 6.6.17
• 6.6.18
• 6.6.19
• 6.6.20
• 6.6.21
• 6.6.22
• 6.6.23
• 6.6.24
• 6.6.25
• 6.6.26
• 6.6.27
• 6.6.28
• 6.6.29
• 6.6.30
• 6.6.31
• 6.6.32
• 6.6.33
• 6.6.34
• 6.6.35
• 6.6.36
• 6.6.37
• 6.6.38
• 6.6.39
• 6.6.40
• 6.6.41
• 6.6.42
• 6.6.43
• 6.6.44
• 6.6.45
• 6.6.46
• 6.6.47
• 6.6.48
• 6.6.49
• 6.6.50
• 6.6.51
• 6.6.52
• 6.6.53
• 6.6.54
• 6.6.55
• 6.6.56
• 6.6.57
• 6.6.58
• 6.6.59
• 6.6.60
• 6.6.61
• 6.6.62
• 6.6.63
• 6.6.64
• 6.6.65
• 6.6.66
• 6.6.67
• 6.6.68
• 6.6.69
• 6.6.70
• 6.6.71
• 6.6.72
• 6.6.73
• 6.6.74
• 6.6.75
• 6.6.76
• 6.6.77
• 6.6.78
• 6.6.79
• 6.6.80
• 6.6.81
• 6.6.82
• 6.6.83
• 6.6.84
• 6.6.85
• 6.6.86
• 6.6.87
• 6.6.88
• 6.6.89
• 6.6.90
• 6.6.91
• 6.6.92
• 6.6.93
• 6.6.94
• 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
• 6.12.31
• 6.12.32
• 6.12.33
• 6.12.34
• 6.15.0
• 6.15.1
• 6.15.2
• 6.15.3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.4

VulDB Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Temp Score: 5.3
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
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Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Return value
CWE: CWE-252 / CWE-253
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Nessus ID: 242437
Nessus Name: RHEL 8 : kernel-rt (RHSA-2025:11456)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.4.295/5.10.239/5.15.186/6.1.142/6.6.95/6.12.35/6.15.4/6.16-rc1
Patch: 119766de4930ff40db9f36b960cb53b0c400e81b/33163c68d2e3061fa3935b5f0a1867958b1cdbd2/9da3e442714f7f4393ff01c265c4959c03e88c2f/9a350f30d65197354706b7759b5c89d6c267b1a9/6bd2569d0b2f918e9581f744df0263caf73ee76c/4da7fcc098218ff92b2e83a43f545c02f714cedd/cdaa6d1cb2ff1219c6c822b27655dd170ffb0f72/9ad0452c0277b816a435433cca601304cfac7c21

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
06/28/2025 +73 days Advisory disclosed
06/28/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
01/30/2026 +216 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38086 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38086
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-314324
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1417 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 06/28/2025 12:34
Updated: 01/30/2026 23:21
Changes: 06/28/2025 12:34 (58), 06/28/2025 13:35 (1), 07/21/2025 14:32 (7), 07/22/2025 05:00 (2), 08/05/2025 15:27 (1), 10/14/2025 17:50 (1), 12/17/2025 18:28 (11), 01/30/2026 23:21 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:A2B:103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Discussion

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