Linux Kernel up to 6.15.9/6.16.0 usb config_group_find_item null pointer dereference

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5.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as critical has been reported in Linux Kernel up to 6.15.9/6.16.0. Affected is the function config_group_find_item of the component usb. Performing a manipulation results in null pointer dereference. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-38558. There is no available exploit. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.15.9/6.16.0. This affects the function config_group_find_item of the component usb. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as 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. This is going to have an impact on availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: usb: gadget: uvc: Initialize frame-based format color matching descriptor Fix NULL pointer crash in uvcg_framebased_make due to uninitialized color matching descriptor for frame-based format which was added in commit f5e7bdd34aca ("usb: gadget: uvc: Allow creating new color matching descriptors") that added handling for uncompressed and mjpeg format. Crash is seen when userspace configuration (via configfs) does not explicitly define the color matching descriptor. If color_matching is not found, config_group_find_item() returns NULL. The code then jumps to out_put_cm, where it calls config_item_put(color_matching);. If color_matching is NULL, this will dereference a null pointer, leading to a crash. [ 2.746440] Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 000000000000008c [ 2.756273] Mem abort info: [ 2.760080] ESR = 0x0000000096000005 [ 2.764872] EC = 0x25: DABT (current EL), IL = 32 bits [ 2.771068] SET = 0, FnV = 0 [ 2.771069] EA = 0, S1PTW = 0 [ 2.771070] FSC = 0x05: level 1 translation fault [ 2.771071] Data abort info: [ 2.771072] ISV = 0, ISS = 0x00000005, ISS2 = 0x00000000 [ 2.771073] CM = 0, WnR = 0, TnD = 0, TagAccess = 0 [ 2.771074] GCS = 0, Overlay = 0, DirtyBit = 0, Xs = 0 [ 2.771075] user pgtable: 4k pages, 39-bit VAs, pgdp=00000000a3e59000 [ 2.771077] [000000000000008c] pgd=0000000000000000, p4d=0000000000000000, pud=0000000000000000 [ 2.771081] Internal error: Oops: 0000000096000005 [#1] PREEMPT SMP [ 2.771084] Dumping ftrace buffer: [ 2.771085] (ftrace buffer empty) [ 2.771138] CPU: 7 PID: 486 Comm: ln Tainted: G W E 6.6.58-android15 [ 2.771139] Hardware name: Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. SunP QRD HDK (DT) [ 2.771140] pstate: 61400005 (nZCv daif +PAN -UAO -TCO +DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) [ 2.771141] pc : __uvcg_fill_strm+0x198/0x2cc [ 2.771145] lr : __uvcg_iter_strm_cls+0xc8/0x17c [ 2.771146] sp : ffffffc08140bbb0 [ 2.771146] x29: ffffffc08140bbb0 x28: ffffff803bc81380 x27: ffffff8023bbd250 [ 2.771147] x26: ffffff8023bbd250 x25: ffffff803c361348 x24: ffffff803d8e6768 [ 2.771148] x23: 0000000000000004 x22: 0000000000000003 x21: ffffffc08140bc48 [ 2.771149] x20: 0000000000000000 x19: ffffffc08140bc48 x18: ffffffe9f8cf4a00 [ 2.771150] x17: 000000001bf64ec3 x16: 000000001bf64ec3 x15: ffffff8023bbd250 [ 2.771151] x14: 000000000000000f x13: 004c4b40000f4240 x12: 000a2c2a00051615 [ 2.771152] x11: 000000000000004f x10: ffffffe9f76b40ec x9 : ffffffe9f7e389d0 [ 2.771153] x8 : ffffff803d0d31ce x7 : 000f4240000a2c2a x6 : 0005161500028b0a [ 2.771154] x5 : ffffff803d0d31ce x4 : 0000000000000003 x3 : 0000000000000000 [ 2.771155] x2 : ffffffc08140bc50 x1 : ffffffc08140bc48 x0 : 0000000000000000 [ 2.771156] Call trace: [ 2.771157] __uvcg_fill_strm+0x198/0x2cc [ 2.771157] __uvcg_iter_strm_cls+0xc8/0x17c [ 2.771158] uvcg_streaming_class_allow_link+0x240/0x290 [ 2.771159] configfs_symlink+0x1f8/0x630 [ 2.771161] vfs_symlink+0x114/0x1a0 [ 2.771163] do_symlinkat+0x94/0x28c [ 2.771164] __arm64_sys_symlinkat+0x54/0x70 [ 2.771164] invoke_syscall+0x58/0x114 [ 2.771166] el0_svc_common+0x80/0xe0 [ 2.771168] do_el0_svc+0x1c/0x28 [ 2.771169] el0_svc+0x3c/0x70 [ 2.771172] el0t_64_sync_handler+0x68/0xbc [ 2.771173] el0t_64_sync+0x1a8/0x1ac Initialize color matching descriptor for frame-based format to prevent NULL pointer crash by mirroring the handling done for uncompressed and mjpeg formats.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-38558 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 vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 276629 (Ubuntu 24.04 LTS / 25.04 : Linux kernel vulnerabilities (USN-7879-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.15.10, 6.16.1 or 6.17-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 6db61c1aa23075eeee90e083ca3f6567a5635da6/7f8576fc9d1a203d12474bf52710c7af68cae490/323a80a1a5ace319a722909c006d5bdb2a35d273 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 (276629) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1869). 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
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Dell Avamar
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • Dell NetWorker
  • Dell Secure Connect Gateway
  • IBM QRadar SIEM

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.1
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.0

VulDB Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Temp Score: 4.6
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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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: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 276629
Nessus Name: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS / 25.04 : Linux kernel vulnerabilities (USN-7879-1)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.15.10/6.16.1/6.17-rc1
Patch: 6db61c1aa23075eeee90e083ca3f6567a5635da6/7f8576fc9d1a203d12474bf52710c7af68cae490/323a80a1a5ace319a722909c006d5bdb2a35d273

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
08/19/2025 +125 days Advisory disclosed
08/19/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
12/15/2025 +118 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38558 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38558
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-320583
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1869 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 08/19/2025 19:24
Updated: 12/15/2025 21:11
Changes: 08/19/2025 19:24 (59), 09/22/2025 06:23 (7), 09/23/2025 03:28 (1), 09/24/2025 14:15 (1), 10/23/2025 12:02 (1), 11/01/2025 11:50 (1), 11/25/2025 04:02 (2), 11/28/2025 15:47 (12), 12/15/2025 21:11 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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

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