Linux Kernel up to 6.15.3 jffs2 fs/jffs2/nodelist.c jffs2_link_node_ref return value

| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 4.9 | $0-$5k | 0.00 |
Summary
A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.15.3. This affects the function jffs2_link_node_ref of the file fs/jffs2/nodelist.c of the component jffs2. Performing a manipulation results in return value.
This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-38194. There is no available exploit.
It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.
Details
A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.15.3. It has been classified as problematic. This affects the function jffs2_link_node_ref of the file fs/jffs2/nodelist.c of the component jffs2. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a return value vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-252. The product does not check the return value from a method or function, which can prevent it from detecting unexpected states and conditions. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: jffs2: check that raw node were preallocated before writing summary Syzkaller detected a kernel bug in jffs2_link_node_ref, caused by fault injection in jffs2_prealloc_raw_node_refs. jffs2_sum_write_sumnode doesn't check return value of jffs2_prealloc_raw_node_refs and simply lets any error propagate into jffs2_sum_write_data, which eventually calls jffs2_link_node_ref in order to link the summary to an expectedly allocated node. kernel BUG at fs/jffs2/nodelist.c:592! invalid opcode: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP KASAN NOPTI CPU: 1 PID: 31277 Comm: syz-executor.7 Not tainted 6.1.128-syzkaller-00139-ge10f83ca10a1 #0 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.12.0-1 04/01/2014 RIP: 0010:jffs2_link_node_ref+0x570/0x690 fs/jffs2/nodelist.c:592 Call Trace: <TASK> jffs2_sum_write_data fs/jffs2/summary.c:841 [inline] jffs2_sum_write_sumnode+0xd1a/0x1da0 fs/jffs2/summary.c:874 jffs2_do_reserve_space+0xa18/0xd60 fs/jffs2/nodemgmt.c:388 jffs2_reserve_space+0x55f/0xaa0 fs/jffs2/nodemgmt.c:197 jffs2_write_inode_range+0x246/0xb50 fs/jffs2/write.c:362 jffs2_write_end+0x726/0x15d0 fs/jffs2/file.c:301 generic_perform_write+0x314/0x5d0 mm/filemap.c:3856 __generic_file_write_iter+0x2ae/0x4d0 mm/filemap.c:3973 generic_file_write_iter+0xe3/0x350 mm/filemap.c:4005 call_write_iter include/linux/fs.h:2265 [inline] do_iter_readv_writev+0x20f/0x3c0 fs/read_write.c:735 do_iter_write+0x186/0x710 fs/read_write.c:861 vfs_iter_write+0x70/0xa0 fs/read_write.c:902 iter_file_splice_write+0x73b/0xc90 fs/splice.c:685 do_splice_from fs/splice.c:763 [inline] direct_splice_actor+0x10c/0x170 fs/splice.c:950 splice_direct_to_actor+0x337/0xa10 fs/splice.c:896 do_splice_direct+0x1a9/0x280 fs/splice.c:1002 do_sendfile+0xb13/0x12c0 fs/read_write.c:1255 __do_sys_sendfile64 fs/read_write.c:1323 [inline] __se_sys_sendfile64 fs/read_write.c:1309 [inline] __x64_sys_sendfile64+0x1cf/0x210 fs/read_write.c:1309 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:51 [inline] do_syscall_64+0x35/0x80 arch/x86/entry/common.c:81 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x6e/0xd8 Fix this issue by checking return value of jffs2_prealloc_raw_node_refs before calling jffs2_sum_write_data. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with Syzkaller.
It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-38194 since 04/16/2025. The exploitability is told to be difficult. 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 248396 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38194), 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-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 337f80f3d546e131c7aa90b61d8cde051ae858c7/8ce46dc5b10b0b6f67663202a4921b0e11ad7367/4adee34098a6ee86a54bf3ec885eab620c126a6b/c0edcdb4fc106d69a2d1a0ce4868193511c389f3/3f46644a5131a4793fc95c32a7d0a769745b06e7/da12ef7e19048dc5714032c2db587a215852b200/346cfb9d19ea7feb6fb57917b21c4797fb444dab/ec9e6f22bce433b260ea226de127ec68042849b0 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 (248396), EUVD (EUVD-2025-20062) 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
Product
Type
Vendor
Name
Version
- 5.4.294
- 5.10.238
- 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
- 6.6.94
- 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
- 6.12.34
- 6.15.0
- 6.15.1
- 6.15.2
- 6.15.3
License
Website
- Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔒VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.0VulDB 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: 🔒
CVSSv2
| AV | AC | Au | C | I | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| Vector | Complexity | Authentication | Confidentiality | Integrity | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Return valueCWE: CWE-252 / CWE-253
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 |
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| Today | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
Nessus ID: 248396
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38194
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: UpgradeStatus: 🔍
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-rc1
Patch: 337f80f3d546e131c7aa90b61d8cde051ae858c7/8ce46dc5b10b0b6f67663202a4921b0e11ad7367/4adee34098a6ee86a54bf3ec885eab620c126a6b/c0edcdb4fc106d69a2d1a0ce4868193511c389f3/3f46644a5131a4793fc95c32a7d0a769745b06e7/da12ef7e19048dc5714032c2db587a215852b200/346cfb9d19ea7feb6fb57917b21c4797fb444dab/ec9e6f22bce433b260ea226de127ec68042849b0
Timeline
04/16/2025 CVE reserved07/04/2025 Advisory disclosed
07/04/2025 VulDB entry created
12/19/2025 VulDB entry last update
Sources
Vendor: kernel.orgAdvisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed
CVE: CVE-2025-38194 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38194
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-314943
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1465 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service
Entry
Created: 07/04/2025 16:25Updated: 12/19/2025 05:40
Changes: 07/04/2025 16:25 (59), 07/04/2025 20:37 (1), 07/20/2025 17:48 (7), 08/12/2025 12:34 (2), 08/25/2025 16:15 (1), 09/11/2025 01:44 (1), 09/21/2025 01:32 (1), 11/03/2025 00:43 (1), 12/08/2025 05:43 (1), 12/19/2025 05:40 (13)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
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