Linux Kernel up to 6.16.0 null pointer dereference

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5.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.147/6.6.101/6.12.41/6.15.9/6.16.0. It has been rated as critical. The impacted element is an unknown function. This manipulation causes null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2025-38581. No exploit is available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.147/6.6.101/6.12.41/6.15.9/6.16.0. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown function. 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. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: crypto: ccp - Fix crash when rebind ccp device for ccp.ko When CONFIG_CRYPTO_DEV_CCP_DEBUGFS is enabled, rebinding the ccp device causes the following crash: $ echo '0000:0a:00.2' > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/ccp/unbind $ echo '0000:0a:00.2' > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/ccp/bind [ 204.976930] BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000098 [ 204.978026] #PF: supervisor write access in kernel mode [ 204.979126] #PF: error_code(0x0002) - not-present page [ 204.980226] PGD 0 P4D 0 [ 204.981317] Oops: Oops: 0002 [#1] SMP NOPTI ... [ 204.997852] Call Trace: [ 204.999074] <TASK> [ 205.000297] start_creating+0x9f/0x1c0 [ 205.001533] debugfs_create_dir+0x1f/0x170 [ 205.002769] ? srso_return_thunk+0x5/0x5f [ 205.004000] ccp5_debugfs_setup+0x87/0x170 [ccp] [ 205.005241] ccp5_init+0x8b2/0x960 [ccp] [ 205.006469] ccp_dev_init+0xd4/0x150 [ccp] [ 205.007709] sp_init+0x5f/0x80 [ccp] [ 205.008942] sp_pci_probe+0x283/0x2e0 [ccp] [ 205.010165] ? srso_return_thunk+0x5/0x5f [ 205.011376] local_pci_probe+0x4f/0xb0 [ 205.012584] pci_device_probe+0xdb/0x230 [ 205.013810] really_probe+0xed/0x380 [ 205.015024] __driver_probe_device+0x7e/0x160 [ 205.016240] device_driver_attach+0x2f/0x60 [ 205.017457] bind_store+0x7c/0xb0 [ 205.018663] drv_attr_store+0x28/0x40 [ 205.019868] sysfs_kf_write+0x5f/0x70 [ 205.021065] kernfs_fop_write_iter+0x145/0x1d0 [ 205.022267] vfs_write+0x308/0x440 [ 205.023453] ksys_write+0x6d/0xe0 [ 205.024616] __x64_sys_write+0x1e/0x30 [ 205.025778] x64_sys_call+0x16ba/0x2150 [ 205.026942] do_syscall_64+0x56/0x1e0 [ 205.028108] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e [ 205.029276] RIP: 0033:0x7fbc36f10104 [ 205.030420] Code: 89 02 48 c7 c0 ff ff ff ff c3 66 2e 0f 1f 84 00 00 00 00 00 66 90 48 8d 05 e1 08 2e 00 8b 00 85 c0 75 13 b8 01 00 00 00 0f 05 <48> 3d 00 f0 ff ff 77 54 f3 c3 66 90 41 54 55 49 89 d4 53 48 89 f5 This patch sets ccp_debugfs_dir to NULL after destroying it in ccp5_debugfs_destroy, allowing the directory dentry to be recreated when rebinding the ccp device. Tested on AMD Ryzen 7 1700X.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-38581 since 04/16/2025. The exploitation appears to be difficult. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not publicly available.

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 2d4060f05e74dbee884ba723f6afd9282befc3c5/db111468531777cac8b4beb6515a88a54b0c4a74/9dea08eac4f6d6fbbae59992978252e2edab995d/6eadf50c1d894cb34f3237064063207460946040/64ec9a7e7a6398b172ab6feba60e952163a1c3d5/181698af38d3f93381229ad89c09b5bd0496661a 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). 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

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Version

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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 6.1.148/6.6.102/6.12.42/6.15.10/6.16.1/6.17-rc1
Patch: 2d4060f05e74dbee884ba723f6afd9282befc3c5/db111468531777cac8b4beb6515a88a54b0c4a74/9dea08eac4f6d6fbbae59992978252e2edab995d/6eadf50c1d894cb34f3237064063207460946040/64ec9a7e7a6398b172ab6feba60e952163a1c3d5/181698af38d3f93381229ad89c09b5bd0496661a

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-2025-38581 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38581
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-320635
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1869 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 08/19/2025 19:34
Updated: 01/09/2026 16:17
Changes: 08/19/2025 19:34 (57), 09/24/2025 19:41 (7), 10/27/2025 00:47 (1), 11/01/2025 12:35 (1), 11/25/2025 04:40 (2), 12/15/2025 22:58 (1), 01/09/2026 16:17 (13)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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

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