Linux Kernel up to 6.12.33/6.15.2 arm_ni_init denial of service

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.33/6.15.2. This affects the function arm_ni_init. The manipulation leads to denial of service. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2025-38168. There is no exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.33/6.15.2. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function arm_ni_init. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a denial of service vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-404. The product does not release or incorrectly releases a resource before it is made available for re-use. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: perf: arm-ni: Unregister PMUs on probe failure When a resource allocation fails in one clock domain of an NI device, we need to properly roll back all previously registered perf PMUs in other clock domains of the same device. Otherwise, it can lead to kernel panics. Calling arm_ni_init+0x0/0xff8 [arm_ni] @ 2374 arm-ni ARMHCB70:00: Failed to request PMU region 0x1f3c13000 arm-ni ARMHCB70:00: probe with driver arm-ni failed with error -16 list_add corruption: next->prev should be prev (fffffd01e9698a18), but was 0000000000000000. (next=ffff10001a0decc8). pstate: 6340009 (nZCv daif +PAN -UAO +TCO +DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) pc : list_add_valid_or_report+0x7c/0xb8 lr : list_add_valid_or_report+0x7c/0xb8 Call trace: __list_add_valid_or_report+0x7c/0xb8 perf_pmu_register+0x22c/0x3a0 arm_ni_probe+0x554/0x70c [arm_ni] platform_probe+0x70/0xe8 really_probe+0xc6/0x4d8 driver_probe_device+0x48/0x170 __driver_attach+0x8e/0x1c0 bus_for_each_dev+0x64/0xf0 driver_add+0x138/0x260 bus_add_driver+0x68/0x138 __platform_driver_register+0x2c/0x40 arm_ni_init+0x14/0x2a [arm_ni] do_init_module+0x36/0x298 ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- Kernel panic - not syncing: Oops - BUG: Fatal exception SMP: stopping secondary CPUs

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-38168 since 04/16/2025. The exploitation is known to be difficult. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 265934 (Ubuntu 24.04 LTS / 25.04 : Linux kernel vulnerabilities (USN-7769-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.12.34, 6.15.3 or 6.16-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 7e958e116e3be05a1f869b5a885fc5d674c7725f/72caf9886e9c1731cf7bfe3eabc308b9268b21d6/7f57afde6a44d9e044885e1125034edd4fda02e8 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 (265934), EUVD (EUVD-2025-19776) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1452). 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
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Dell Avamar
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • Dell NetWorker
  • Dell Secure Connect Gateway

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.1
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.0

VulDB Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Temp Score: 4.6
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Denial of service
CWE: CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 265934
Nessus Name: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS / 25.04 : Linux kernel vulnerabilities (USN-7769-1)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.12.34/6.15.3/6.16-rc1
Patch: 7e958e116e3be05a1f869b5a885fc5d674c7725f/72caf9886e9c1731cf7bfe3eabc308b9268b21d6/7f57afde6a44d9e044885e1125034edd4fda02e8

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
07/03/2025 +78 days Advisory disclosed
07/03/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
12/06/2025 +156 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38168 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38168
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-314729
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1452 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 07/03/2025 12:12
Updated: 12/06/2025 19:02
Changes: 07/03/2025 12:12 (58), 07/03/2025 12:29 (1), 08/23/2025 21:55 (7), 09/22/2025 00:27 (1), 09/28/2025 08:37 (2), 11/09/2025 17:08 (1), 11/20/2025 21:01 (19), 12/06/2025 19:02 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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

Discussion

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