Linux Kernel up to 6.15.2 ntfs3 hdr_first_de null pointer dereference

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5.5	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as critical has been reported in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.185/6.1.141/6.6.93/6.12.33/6.15.2. This affects the function hdr_first_de of the component ntfs3. Performing a manipulation results in null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-38167. No exploit is available. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.185/6.1.141/6.6.93/6.12.33/6.15.2. It has been classified as critical. This affects the function hdr_first_de of the component ntfs3. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as 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. This is going to have an impact on availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs/ntfs3: handle hdr_first_de() return value The hdr_first_de() function returns a pointer to a struct NTFS_DE. This pointer may be NULL. To handle the NULL error effectively, it is important to implement an error handler. This will help manage potential errors consistently. Additionally, error handling for the return value already exists at other points where this function is called. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with SVACE.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-38167 since 04/16/2025. The exploitability is told to be easy. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 249177 (Debian dsa-5973 : affs-modules-6.1.0-37-4kc-malta-di - security update), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 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 5390b3d4c6d41d05bb9149d094d504cbc9ea85bf/83cd0aa74793384dbdffc140500b200e9776a302/701340a25b1ad210e6b8192195be21fd3fcc22c7/2d5879f64554181b89f44d4817b9ea86e8e913e1/4ecd0cde89feee26525ccdf1af0c1ae156ca010b/af5cab0e5b6f8edb0be51a9f47f3f620e0b4fd70 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 (249177), EUVD (EUVD-2025-19777) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1452). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 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

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CPE 2.2info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.5

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

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

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: 249177
Nessus Name: Debian dsa-5973 : affs-modules-6.1.0-37-4kc-malta-di - security update

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Kernel 5.15.186/6.1.142/6.6.94/6.12.34/6.15.3/6.16-rc1
Patch: 5390b3d4c6d41d05bb9149d094d504cbc9ea85bf/83cd0aa74793384dbdffc140500b200e9776a302/701340a25b1ad210e6b8192195be21fd3fcc22c7/2d5879f64554181b89f44d4817b9ea86e8e913e1/4ecd0cde89feee26525ccdf1af0c1ae156ca010b/af5cab0e5b6f8edb0be51a9f47f3f620e0b4fd70

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-2025-38167 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38167
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-314745
EUVD: 🔍
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1452 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 07/03/2025 12:16
Updated: 04/18/2026 15:48
Changes: 07/03/2025 12:16 (59), 07/03/2025 12:29 (1), 08/13/2025 19:43 (2), 08/23/2025 21:55 (7), 09/21/2025 22:08 (1), 11/09/2025 17:08 (1), 12/06/2025 19:02 (1), 12/19/2025 03:25 (11), 04/18/2026 15:48 (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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