Linux Kernel up to 6.12.36/6.15.5/6.16-rc2 irq_sim kzalloc initialization

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as problematic has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.36/6.15.5/6.16-rc2. Impacted is the function kzalloc of the component irq_sim. This manipulation causes initialization. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2025-38408. There is not any exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.36/6.15.5/6.16-rc2 and classified as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is the function kzalloc of the component irq_sim. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a initialization vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is 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. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: genirq/irq_sim: Initialize work context pointers properly Initialize `ops` member's pointers properly by using kzalloc() instead of kmalloc() when allocating the simulation work context. Otherwise the pointers contain random content leading to invalid dereferencing.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-38408 since 04/16/2025. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 249923 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38408), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.12.37, 6.15.6 or 6.16-rc3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 19bd7597858dd15802c1d99fcc38e528f469080a/7f73d1def72532bac4d55ea8838f457a6bed955c/8a2277a3c9e4cc5398f80821afe7ecbe9bdf2819 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 (249923), EUVD (EUVD-2025-22593) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1653). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best 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

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 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
• 6.12.35
• 6.12.36
• 6.15.0
• 6.15.1
• 6.15.2
• 6.15.3
• 6.15.4
• 6.15.5
• 6.16-rc1
• 6.16-rc2

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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Entryinfo

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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