VDB-315778 · CVE-2025-38243 · EUVD-2025-20818

Linux Kernel up to 6.15.4/6.16-rc3 btrfs read_one_inode null pointer dereference

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5.5	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Linux Kernel up to 6.15.4/6.16-rc3. Affected by this issue is the function read_one_inode of the component btrfs. Executing a manipulation can lead to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2025-38243. There is no available exploit. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.15.4/6.16-rc3 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects the function read_one_inode of the component btrfs. 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. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: fix invalid inode pointer dereferences during log replay In a few places where we call read_one_inode(), if we get a NULL pointer we end up jumping into an error path, or fallthrough in case of __add_inode_ref(), where we then do something like this: iput(&inode->vfs_inode); which results in an invalid inode pointer that triggers an invalid memory access, resulting in a crash. Fix this by making sure we don't do such dereferences.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-38243 since 04/16/2025. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 250074 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38243), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.15.5 or 6.16-rc4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch ba8386d662cc51cc5382688bbf7a152b0b0b27cf/2dcf838cf5c2f0f4501edaa1680fcad03618d760 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 (250074), EUVD (EUVD-2025-20818) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1517). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Affected

Debian Linux
Google Cloud Platform
Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Ubuntu Linux
SUSE Linux
Oracle Linux
IBM QRadar SIEM
SUSE openSUSE
NetApp ActiveIQ Unified Manager
Dell Avamar
Open Source Linux Kernel
Dell NetWorker
Dell Secure Connect Gateway

Productinfo

Type

Operating System

Vendor

Linux

Name

Kernel

Version

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
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💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
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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: 250074
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38243

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.15.5/6.16-rc4
Patch: ba8386d662cc51cc5382688bbf7a152b0b0b27cf/2dcf838cf5c2f0f4501edaa1680fcad03618d760

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
07/09/2025 +84 days Advisory disclosed
07/09/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
05/02/2026 +297 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38243 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38243
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-315778
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1517 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service

Entryinfo

Created: 07/09/2025 14:00
Updated: 05/02/2026 11:20
Changes: 07/09/2025 14:00 (59), 07/09/2025 15:33 (1), 08/17/2025 15:31 (2), 08/23/2025 00:38 (7), 09/25/2025 13:00 (1), 11/02/2025 21:43 (1), 11/19/2025 20:49 (11), 01/30/2026 21:00 (1), 05/02/2026 11:20 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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