VDB-321112 · CVE-2025-38665 · Nessus 266180

Linux Kernel up to 6.1.147/6.6.100/6.12.40/6.15.8 can_changelink null pointer dereference

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5.5	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.147/6.6.100/6.12.40/6.15.8. Affected by this vulnerability is the function can_changelink. Executing a manipulation can lead to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2025-38665. No exploit exists. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.147/6.6.100/6.12.40/6.15.8. This vulnerability affects the function can_changelink. 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. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: can: netlink: can_changelink(): fix NULL pointer deref of struct can_priv::do_set_mode Andrei Lalaev reported a NULL pointer deref when a CAN device is restarted from Bus Off and the driver does not implement the struct can_priv::do_set_mode callback. There are 2 code path that call struct can_priv::do_set_mode: - directly by a manual restart from the user space, via can_changelink() - delayed automatic restart after bus off (deactivated by default) To prevent the NULL pointer deference, refuse a manual restart or configure the automatic restart delay in can_changelink() and report the error via extack to user space. As an additional safety measure let can_restart() return an error if can_priv::do_set_mode is not set instead of dereferencing it unchecked.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-38665 since 04/16/2025. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 266180 (Amazon Linux 2 : kernel, --advisory ALAS2-2025-3013 (ALAS-2025-3013)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.148, 6.6.101, 6.12.41 or 6.15.9 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 6bbcf37c5114926c99a1d1e6993a5b35689d2599/cf81a60a973358dea163f6b14062f17831ceb894/0ca816a96fdcf32644c80cbe7a82c7b6ce6ddda5/6acceb46180f9e160d4f0c56fcaf39ba562822ae/c1f3f9797c1f44a762e6f5f72520b2e520537b52 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 (266180) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1898). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

Debian Linux
Google Cloud Platform
Amazon Linux 2
Ubuntu Linux
SUSE Linux
Oracle Linux
NetApp AFF
NetApp ActiveIQ Unified Manager
SUSE openSUSE
Dell Avamar
NetApp FAS
Open Source Linux Kernel
Dell NetWorker
Dell Secure Connect Gateway

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: 5.6
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

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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: 🔒