Linux Kernel up to 6.15.3 media cxusb.c usb_bulk_msg initialization

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
6.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 6.15.3. This impacts the function usb_bulk_msg of the file drivers/media/usb/dvb-usb/cxusb.c of the component media. The manipulation leads to initialization. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2025-38229. There is no exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.15.3. This issue affects the function usb_bulk_msg of the file drivers/media/usb/dvb-usb/cxusb.c of the component media. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a initialization vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-665. The product does not initialize or incorrectly initializes a resource, which might leave the resource in an unexpected state when it is accessed or used. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: media: cxusb: no longer judge rbuf when the write fails syzbot reported a uninit-value in cxusb_i2c_xfer. [1] Only when the write operation of usb_bulk_msg() in dvb_usb_generic_rw() succeeds and rlen is greater than 0, the read operation of usb_bulk_msg() will be executed to read rlen bytes of data from the dvb device into the rbuf. In this case, although rlen is 1, the write operation failed which resulted in the dvb read operation not being executed, and ultimately variable i was not initialized. [1] BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in cxusb_gpio_tuner drivers/media/usb/dvb-usb/cxusb.c:124 [inline] BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in cxusb_i2c_xfer+0x153a/0x1a60 drivers/media/usb/dvb-usb/cxusb.c:196 cxusb_gpio_tuner drivers/media/usb/dvb-usb/cxusb.c:124 [inline] cxusb_i2c_xfer+0x153a/0x1a60 drivers/media/usb/dvb-usb/cxusb.c:196 __i2c_transfer+0xe25/0x3150 drivers/i2c/i2c-core-base.c:-1 i2c_transfer+0x317/0x4a0 drivers/i2c/i2c-core-base.c:2315 i2c_transfer_buffer_flags+0x125/0x1e0 drivers/i2c/i2c-core-base.c:2343 i2c_master_send include/linux/i2c.h:109 [inline] i2cdev_write+0x210/0x280 drivers/i2c/i2c-dev.c:183 do_loop_readv_writev fs/read_write.c:848 [inline] vfs_writev+0x963/0x14e0 fs/read_write.c:1057 do_writev+0x247/0x5c0 fs/read_write.c:1101 __do_sys_writev fs/read_write.c:1169 [inline] __se_sys_writev fs/read_write.c:1166 [inline] __x64_sys_writev+0x98/0xe0 fs/read_write.c:1166 x64_sys_call+0x2229/0x3c80 arch/x86/include/generated/asm/syscalls_64.h:21 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:63 [inline] do_syscall_64+0xcd/0x1e0 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-38229 since 04/16/2025. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 12/19/2025).

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 5.10.239, 5.15.186, 6.1.142, 6.6.95, 6.12.35, 6.15.4 or 6.16-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 390b864e3281802109dfe56e508396683e125653/41807a5f67420464ac8ee7741504f6b5decb3b7c/84eca597baa346f09b30accdaeca10ced3eeba2d/04354c529c8246a38ae28f713fd6bfdc028113bc/9bff888c92f5c25effbb876d22a793c2388c1ccc/8b35b50b7e98d8e9a0a27257c8424448afae10de/73fb3b92da84637e3817580fa205d48065924e15 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-2025-20027) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1465). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality 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: 6.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.6

VulDB Base Score: 8.0
VulDB Temp Score: 7.6
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Initialization
CWE: CWE-665
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

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 5.10.239/5.15.186/6.1.142/6.6.95/6.12.35/6.15.4/6.16-rc1
Patch: 390b864e3281802109dfe56e508396683e125653/41807a5f67420464ac8ee7741504f6b5decb3b7c/84eca597baa346f09b30accdaeca10ced3eeba2d/04354c529c8246a38ae28f713fd6bfdc028113bc/9bff888c92f5c25effbb876d22a793c2388c1ccc/8b35b50b7e98d8e9a0a27257c8424448afae10de/73fb3b92da84637e3817580fa205d48065924e15

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-2025-38229 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38229
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-314939
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1465 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service

Entryinfo

Created: 07/04/2025 16:25
Updated: 12/19/2025 07:15
Changes: 07/04/2025 16:25 (59), 07/04/2025 17:36 (1), 07/20/2025 21:24 (7), 08/13/2025 22:37 (2), 08/25/2025 23:21 (1), 09/11/2025 21:45 (1), 09/21/2025 06:22 (1), 11/03/2025 07:45 (1), 12/14/2025 06:24 (1), 12/19/2025 07:15 (12)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Do you want to use VulDB in your project?

Use the official API to access entries easily!