Linux Kernel up to 6.16-rc1 sk_is_readable null pointer dereference

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5.1	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.16-rc1. This issue affects the function sk_is_readable. Executing a manipulation can lead to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2025-38112. No exploit exists. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.16-rc1. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects the function sk_is_readable. 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. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: Fix TOCTOU issue in sk_is_readable() sk->sk_prot->sock_is_readable is a valid function pointer when sk resides in a sockmap. After the last sk_psock_put() (which usually happens when socket is removed from sockmap), sk->sk_prot gets restored and sk->sk_prot->sock_is_readable becomes NULL. This makes sk_is_readable() racy, if the value of sk->sk_prot is reloaded after the initial check. Which in turn may lead to a null pointer dereference. Ensure the function pointer does not turn NULL after the check.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-38112 since 04/16/2025. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 243500 (Amazon Linux 2023 : bpftool, kernel, kernel-devel (ALAS2023-2025-1111)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.10.239, 5.15.186, 6.1.142, 6.6.94, 6.12.34, 6.15.3 or 6.16-rc2 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch c2b26638476baee154920bb587fc94ff1bf04336/6fa68d7eab34d448a61aa24ea31e68b3231ed20d/8926a7ef1977a832dd6bf702f1a99303dbf15b15/ff55c85a923e043d59d26b20a673a1b4a219c310/1e0de7582ceccbdbb227d4e0ddf65732f92526da/1b367ba2f94251822577daed031d6b9a9e11ba91/2660a544fdc0940bba15f70508a46cf9a6491230 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 (243500) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1452). 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
• Dell Avamar
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• Dell NetWorker
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 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
• 6.12.0
• 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
• 6.15.0
• 6.15.1
• 6.15.2
• 6.16-rc1

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
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CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.2
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.1

VulDB Base Score: 5.7
VulDB Temp Score: 5.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 4.7
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
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Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Null pointer dereference
CWE: CWE-476 / CWE-404
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: 243500
Nessus Name: Amazon Linux 2023 : bpftool, kernel, kernel-devel (ALAS2023-2025-1111)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.10.239/5.15.186/6.1.142/6.6.94/6.12.34/6.15.3/6.16-rc2
Patch: c2b26638476baee154920bb587fc94ff1bf04336/6fa68d7eab34d448a61aa24ea31e68b3231ed20d/8926a7ef1977a832dd6bf702f1a99303dbf15b15/ff55c85a923e043d59d26b20a673a1b4a219c310/1e0de7582ceccbdbb227d4e0ddf65732f92526da/1b367ba2f94251822577daed031d6b9a9e11ba91/2660a544fdc0940bba15f70508a46cf9a6491230

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
07/03/2025 +78 days Advisory disclosed
07/03/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
12/17/2025 +167 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38112 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38112
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-314692
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1452 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 07/03/2025 11:40
Updated: 12/17/2025 19:44
Changes: 07/03/2025 11:40 (58), 08/05/2025 11:28 (2), 08/23/2025 16:30 (7), 09/21/2025 15:38 (1), 11/09/2025 11:48 (1), 12/06/2025 03:20 (1), 12/17/2025 19:44 (12)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:F7E:103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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