Linux Kernel up to 6.16.0 ksmbd generate_encryptionkey null pointer dereference

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
5.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.147/6.6.101/6.12.41/6.15.9/6.16.0. Affected is the function generate_encryptionkey of the component ksmbd. The manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-38562. No exploit exists. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.147/6.6.101/6.12.41/6.15.9/6.16.0. This issue affects the function generate_encryptionkey of the component ksmbd. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to 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. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ksmbd: fix null pointer dereference error in generate_encryptionkey If client send two session setups with krb5 authenticate to ksmbd, null pointer dereference error in generate_encryptionkey could happen. sess->Preauth_HashValue is set to NULL if session is valid. So this patch skip generate encryption key if session is valid.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-38562 since 04/16/2025. 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 6.1.148, 6.6.102, 6.12.42, 6.15.10, 6.16.1 or 6.17-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 96a82e19434a2522525baab59c33332658bc7653/d79c8bebaa622ee223128be7c66d8aaeeb634a57/2a30ed6428ce83afedca1a6c5c5c4247bcf12d0e/015ef163d65496ae3ba6192c96140a22743f0353/9c2dbbc959e1fcc6f603a1a843e9cf743ba383bb/9b493ab6f35178afd8d619800df9071992f715de 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), EUVD (EUVD-2025-26503) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1869). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality 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: 5.6
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

AVACAuCIA
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

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-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

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 6.1.148/6.6.102/6.12.42/6.15.10/6.16.1/6.17-rc1
Patch: 96a82e19434a2522525baab59c33332658bc7653/d79c8bebaa622ee223128be7c66d8aaeeb634a57/2a30ed6428ce83afedca1a6c5c5c4247bcf12d0e/015ef163d65496ae3ba6192c96140a22743f0353/9c2dbbc959e1fcc6f603a1a843e9cf743ba383bb/9b493ab6f35178afd8d619800df9071992f715de

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
08/19/2025 +125 days Advisory disclosed
08/19/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
01/09/2026 +143 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38562 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38562
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-320627
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1869 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 08/19/2025 19:32
Updated: 01/09/2026 05:49
Changes: 08/19/2025 19:32 (59), 09/22/2025 06:31 (7), 09/23/2025 03:28 (1), 09/24/2025 15:44 (1), 10/10/2025 18:34 (1), 10/11/2025 01:13 (1), 10/26/2025 23:36 (1), 11/01/2025 11:50 (1), 11/25/2025 04:02 (2), 12/15/2025 21:11 (1), 01/09/2026 05:49 (10)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Do you want to use VulDB in your project?

Use the official API to access entries easily!