VDB-320607 · CVE-2025-38559 · Nessus 270575

Linux Kernel up to 6.12.41/6.15.9/6.16.0 intel_pmt_read null pointer dereference

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5.0	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.41/6.15.9/6.16.0. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is the function intel_pmt_read. Performing a manipulation results in null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2025-38559. No exploit exists. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.41/6.15.9/6.16.0. This affects the function intel_pmt_read. 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: platform/x86/intel/pmt: fix a crashlog NULL pointer access Usage of the intel_pmt_read() for binary sysfs, requires a pcidev. The current use of the endpoint value is only valid for telemetry endpoint usage. Without the ep, the crashlog usage causes the following NULL pointer exception: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000 Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI RIP: 0010:intel_pmt_read+0x3b/0x70 [pmt_class] Code: Call Trace: <TASK> ? sysfs_kf_bin_read+0xc0/0xe0 kernfs_fop_read_iter+0xac/0x1a0 vfs_read+0x26d/0x350 ksys_read+0x6b/0xe0 __x64_sys_read+0x1d/0x30 x64_sys_call+0x1bc8/0x1d70 do_syscall_64+0x6d/0x110 Augment struct intel_pmt_entry with a pointer to the pcidev to avoid the NULL pointer exception.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-38559 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 270575 (Oracle Linux 10 / 9 : Unbreakable Enterprise kernel (ELSA-2025-20662)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.12.42, 6.15.10, 6.16.1 or 6.17-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 860d93bd6a21f08883711196344c353bc3936a2b/18d53b543b5447478e259c96ca4688393f327c98/089d05266b2caf020ac2ae2cd2be78f580268f5d/54d5cd4719c5e87f33d271c9ac2e393147d934f8 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 (270575) 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

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: 5.1
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

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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: 🔒