Linux Kernel up to 6.15.2 fs/f2fs/f2fs.h total_valid_block_count null pointer dereference

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4.9$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.15.2 and classified as problematic. The affected element is the function total_valid_block_count in the library fs/f2fs/f2fs.h. Such manipulation leads to an unknown weakness. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2025-38163. There is no available exploit. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.15.2. It has been rated as problematic. Affected by this issue is the function total_valid_block_count in the library fs/f2fs/f2fs.h. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to 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. The impact remains unknown. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: f2fs: fix to do sanity check on sbi->total_valid_block_count syzbot reported a f2fs bug as below: ------------[ cut here ]------------ kernel BUG at fs/f2fs/f2fs.h:2521! RIP: 0010:dec_valid_block_count+0x3b2/0x3c0 fs/f2fs/f2fs.h:2521 Call Trace: f2fs_truncate_data_blocks_range+0xc8c/0x11a0 fs/f2fs/file.c:695 truncate_dnode+0x417/0x740 fs/f2fs/node.c:973 truncate_nodes+0x3ec/0xf50 fs/f2fs/node.c:1014 f2fs_truncate_inode_blocks+0x8e3/0x1370 fs/f2fs/node.c:1197 f2fs_do_truncate_blocks+0x840/0x12b0 fs/f2fs/file.c:810 f2fs_truncate_blocks+0x10d/0x300 fs/f2fs/file.c:838 f2fs_truncate+0x417/0x720 fs/f2fs/file.c:888 f2fs_setattr+0xc4f/0x12f0 fs/f2fs/file.c:1112 notify_change+0xbca/0xe90 fs/attr.c:552 do_truncate+0x222/0x310 fs/open.c:65 handle_truncate fs/namei.c:3466 [inline] do_open fs/namei.c:3849 [inline] path_openat+0x2e4f/0x35d0 fs/namei.c:4004 do_filp_open+0x284/0x4e0 fs/namei.c:4031 do_sys_openat2+0x12b/0x1d0 fs/open.c:1429 do_sys_open fs/open.c:1444 [inline] __do_sys_creat fs/open.c:1522 [inline] __se_sys_creat fs/open.c:1516 [inline] __x64_sys_creat+0x124/0x170 fs/open.c:1516 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:63 [inline] do_syscall_64+0xf3/0x230 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94 The reason is: in fuzzed image, sbi->total_valid_block_count is inconsistent w/ mapped blocks indexed by inode, so, we should not trigger panic for such case, instead, let's print log and set fsck flag.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2025-38163 since 04/16/2025. The exploitation is known to be difficult. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 246648 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38163), 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, 6.6.94, 6.12.34, 6.15.3 or 6.16-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 49bc7bf38e42cfa642787e947f5721696ea73ac3/f1b743c1955151bd392539b739a3ad155296be13/6a324d77f7ea1a91d55c4b6ad970e3ac9ab6a20d/25f3776b58c1c45ad2e50ab4b263505b4d2378ca/a39cc43efc1bca74ed9d6cf9e60b995071f7d178/65b3f76592aed5a43c4d79375ac097acf975972b/ccc28c0397f75a3ec9539cceed9db014d7b73869/05872a167c2cab80ef186ef23cc34a6776a1a30c 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 (246648), EUVD (EUVD-2025-19781) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1452). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Affected

  • Google Container-Optimized OS
  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • IBM QRadar SIEM
  • 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: 5.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.9

VulDB Base Score: 4.6
VulDB Temp Score: 4.4
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: 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: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 246648
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38163

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Kernel 5.4.295/5.10.239/5.15.186/6.1.142/6.6.94/6.12.34/6.15.3/6.16-rc1
Patch: 49bc7bf38e42cfa642787e947f5721696ea73ac3/f1b743c1955151bd392539b739a3ad155296be13/6a324d77f7ea1a91d55c4b6ad970e3ac9ab6a20d/25f3776b58c1c45ad2e50ab4b263505b4d2378ca/a39cc43efc1bca74ed9d6cf9e60b995071f7d178/65b3f76592aed5a43c4d79375ac097acf975972b/ccc28c0397f75a3ec9539cceed9db014d7b73869/05872a167c2cab80ef186ef23cc34a6776a1a30c

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 🔍
07/03/2025 +78 days 🔍
07/03/2025 +0 days 🔍
04/18/2026 +289 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38163 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38163
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-314738
EUVD: 🔍
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1452 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 07/03/2025 12:13
Updated: 04/18/2026 09:38
Changes: 07/03/2025 12:13 (57), 07/03/2025 12:48 (1), 08/09/2025 18:00 (2), 08/23/2025 21:43 (7), 09/21/2025 22:08 (1), 11/09/2025 16:15 (1), 12/06/2025 19:02 (1), 12/19/2025 01:39 (14), 04/18/2026 09:38 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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