VDB-322536 · CVE-2025-38692 · Nessus 261553

Linux Kernel up to 6.6.102/6.12.42/6.15.10/6.16.1 exfat exfat_count_dir_entries infinite loop

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5.5	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.102/6.12.42/6.15.10/6.16.1 and classified as critical. Impacted is the function exfat_count_dir_entries of the component exfat. The manipulation results in infinite loop. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2025-38692. There is not any exploit available. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.102/6.12.42/6.15.10/6.16.1. Affected is the function exfat_count_dir_entries of the component exfat. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a infinite loop vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-835. The product contains an iteration or loop with an exit condition that cannot be reached, i.e., an infinite loop. This is going to have an impact on availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: exfat: add cluster chain loop check for dir An infinite loop may occur if the following conditions occur due to file system corruption. (1) Condition for exfat_count_dir_entries() to loop infinitely. - The cluster chain includes a loop. - There is no UNUSED entry in the cluster chain. (2) Condition for exfat_create_upcase_table() to loop infinitely. - The cluster chain of the root directory includes a loop. - There are no UNUSED entry and up-case table entry in the cluster chain of the root directory. (3) Condition for exfat_load_bitmap() to loop infinitely. - The cluster chain of the root directory includes a loop. - There are no UNUSED entry and bitmap entry in the cluster chain of the root directory. (4) Condition for exfat_find_dir_entry() to loop infinitely. - The cluster chain includes a loop. - The unused directory entries were exhausted by some operation. (5) Condition for exfat_check_dir_empty() to loop infinitely. - The cluster chain includes a loop. - The unused directory entries were exhausted by some operation. - All files and sub-directories under the directory are deleted. This commit adds checks to break the above infinite loop.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2025-38692 since 04/16/2025. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 261553 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38692), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.6.103, 6.12.43, 6.15.11, 6.16.2 or 6.17-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 868f23286c1a13162330fa6c614fe350f78e3f82/aa8fe7b7b73d4c9a41bb96cb3fb3092f794ecb33/e2066ca3ef49a30920d8536fa366b2a183a808ee/4c3cda20c4cf1871e27868d08fda06b79bc7d568/99f9a97dce39ad413c39b92c90393bbd6778f3fd 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 (261553) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1976). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

Debian Linux
Amazon Linux 2
Open Source Linux Kernel
Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Ubuntu Linux
SUSE Linux
Oracle Linux
SUSE openSUSE
RESF Rocky Linux
Microsoft Azure
Dell Secure Connect Gateway
IBM QRadar SIEM
IBM Security Verify Access
Dell NetWorker

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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Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Infinite loop
CWE: CWE-835 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒