Linux Kernel up to 6.16-rc2 Tun Interface null pointer dereference

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.3$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 6.16-rc2. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the component Tun Interface. This manipulation causes null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2025-38184. The attack can be initiated remotely. There is not any exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.16-rc2. Affected by this vulnerability is some unknown functionality of the component Tun Interface. 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. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tipc: fix null-ptr-deref when acquiring remote ip of ethernet bearer The reproduction steps: 1. create a tun interface 2. enable l2 bearer 3. TIPC_NL_UDP_GET_REMOTEIP with media name set to tun tipc: Started in network mode tipc: Node identity 8af312d38a21, cluster identity 4711 tipc: Enabled bearer <eth:syz_tun>, priority 1 Oops: general protection fault KASAN: null-ptr-deref in range CPU: 1 UID: 1000 PID: 559 Comm: poc Not tainted 6.16.0-rc1+ #117 PREEMPT Hardware name: QEMU Ubuntu 24.04 PC RIP: 0010:tipc_udp_nl_dump_remoteip+0x4a4/0x8f0 the ub was in fact a struct dev. when bid != 0 && skip_cnt != 0, bearer_list[bid] may be NULL or other media when other thread changes it. fix this by checking media_id.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-38184 since 04/16/2025. The exploitation appears to be difficult. The attack can be launched remotely. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not publicly 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 5.4.295, 5.10.239, 5.15.186, 6.1.142, 6.6.95, 6.12.35, 6.15.4 or 6.16-rc3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 3998283e4c32c0fe69edd59b0876c193f50abce6/c2e17984752b9131061d1a2ca1199da2706337fd/8595350615f952fcf8bc861464a6bf6b1129af50/05d332ba075753d569d66333d62d60fff5f57ad8/d3dfe821dfe091c0045044343c8d86596d66e2cf/0d3d91c3500f0c480e016faa4e2259c588616e59/0f4a72fb266e48dbe928e1d936eab149e4ac3e1b/f82727adcf2992822e12198792af450a76ebd5ef 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-2025-20072) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1465). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Affected

  • 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: 5.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.3

VulDB Base Score: 5.3
VulDB Temp Score: 5.1
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: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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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 5.4.295/5.10.239/5.15.186/6.1.142/6.6.95/6.12.35/6.15.4/6.16-rc3
Patch: 3998283e4c32c0fe69edd59b0876c193f50abce6/c2e17984752b9131061d1a2ca1199da2706337fd/8595350615f952fcf8bc861464a6bf6b1129af50/05d332ba075753d569d66333d62d60fff5f57ad8/d3dfe821dfe091c0045044343c8d86596d66e2cf/0d3d91c3500f0c480e016faa4e2259c588616e59/0f4a72fb266e48dbe928e1d936eab149e4ac3e1b/f82727adcf2992822e12198792af450a76ebd5ef

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
07/04/2025 +79 days Advisory disclosed
07/04/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
12/19/2025 +168 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38184 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38184
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-314911
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1465 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen erm&ouml;glichen Denial of Service

Entryinfo

Created: 07/04/2025 16:18
Updated: 12/19/2025 03:25
Changes: 07/04/2025 16:18 (58), 07/04/2025 21:07 (1), 07/20/2025 16:13 (7), 08/13/2025 19:43 (2), 08/25/2025 14:20 (1), 09/02/2025 11:25 (1), 09/10/2025 19:53 (1), 09/20/2025 23:07 (1), 11/02/2025 23:48 (1), 12/08/2025 02:05 (1), 12/19/2025 03:25 (13)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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