Linux Kernel up to 6.17.2 tracing reg null pointer dereference

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4.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.194/6.1.156/6.6.112/6.12.53/6.17.2 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function reg of the component tracing. The manipulation results in null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2025-40042. There is no exploit available. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.194/6.1.156/6.6.112/6.12.53/6.17.2. Affected is the function reg of the component tracing. 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. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tracing: Fix race condition in kprobe initialization causing NULL pointer dereference There is a critical race condition in kprobe initialization that can lead to NULL pointer dereference and kernel crash. [1135630.084782] Unable to handle kernel paging request at virtual address 0000710a04630000 ... [1135630.260314] pstate: 404003c9 (nZcv DAIF +PAN -UAO) [1135630.269239] pc : kprobe_perf_func+0x30/0x260 [1135630.277643] lr : kprobe_dispatcher+0x44/0x60 [1135630.286041] sp : ffffaeff4977fa40 [1135630.293441] x29: ffffaeff4977fa40 x28: ffffaf015340e400 [1135630.302837] x27: 0000000000000000 x26: 0000000000000000 [1135630.312257] x25: ffffaf029ed108a8 x24: ffffaf015340e528 [1135630.321705] x23: ffffaeff4977fc50 x22: ffffaeff4977fc50 [1135630.331154] x21: 0000000000000000 x20: ffffaeff4977fc50 [1135630.340586] x19: ffffaf015340e400 x18: 0000000000000000 [1135630.349985] x17: 0000000000000000 x16: 0000000000000000 [1135630.359285] x15: 0000000000000000 x14: 0000000000000000 [1135630.368445] x13: 0000000000000000 x12: 0000000000000000 [1135630.377473] x11: 0000000000000000 x10: 0000000000000000 [1135630.386411] x9 : 0000000000000000 x8 : 0000000000000000 [1135630.395252] x7 : 0000000000000000 x6 : 0000000000000000 [1135630.403963] x5 : 0000000000000000 x4 : 0000000000000000 [1135630.412545] x3 : 0000710a04630000 x2 : 0000000000000006 [1135630.421021] x1 : ffffaeff4977fc50 x0 : 0000710a04630000 [1135630.429410] Call trace: [1135630.434828] kprobe_perf_func+0x30/0x260 [1135630.441661] kprobe_dispatcher+0x44/0x60 [1135630.448396] aggr_pre_handler+0x70/0xc8 [1135630.454959] kprobe_breakpoint_handler+0x140/0x1e0 [1135630.462435] brk_handler+0xbc/0xd8 [1135630.468437] do_debug_exception+0x84/0x138 [1135630.475074] el1_dbg+0x18/0x8c [1135630.480582] security_file_permission+0x0/0xd0 [1135630.487426] vfs_write+0x70/0x1c0 [1135630.493059] ksys_write+0x5c/0xc8 [1135630.498638] __arm64_sys_write+0x24/0x30 [1135630.504821] el0_svc_common+0x78/0x130 [1135630.510838] el0_svc_handler+0x38/0x78 [1135630.516834] el0_svc+0x8/0x1b0 kernel/trace/trace_kprobe.c: 1308 0xffff3df8995039ec <kprobe_perf_func+0x2c>: ldr x21, [x24,#120] include/linux/compiler.h: 294 0xffff3df8995039f0 <kprobe_perf_func+0x30>: ldr x1, [x21,x0] kernel/trace/trace_kprobe.c 1308: head = this_cpu_ptr(call->perf_events); 1309: if (hlist_empty(head)) 1310: return 0; crash> struct trace_event_call -o struct trace_event_call { ... [120] struct hlist_head *perf_events; //(call->perf_event) ... } crash> struct trace_event_call ffffaf015340e528 struct trace_event_call { ... perf_events = 0xffff0ad5fa89f088, //this value is correct, but x21 = 0 ... } Race Condition Analysis: The race occurs between kprobe activation and perf_events initialization: CPU0 CPU1 ==== ==== perf_kprobe_init perf_trace_event_init tp_event->perf_events = list;(1) tp_event->class->reg (2)← KPROBE ACTIVE Debug exception triggers ... kprobe_dispatcher kprobe_perf_func (tk->tp.flags & TP_FLAG_PROFILE) head = this_cpu_ptr(call->perf_events)(3) (perf_events is still NULL) Problem: 1. CPU0 executes (1) assigning tp_event->perf_events = list 2. CPU0 executes (2) enabling kprobe functionality via class->reg() 3. CPU1 triggers and reaches kprobe_dispatcher 4. CPU1 checks TP_FLAG_PROFILE - condition passes (step 2 completed) 5. CPU1 calls kprobe_perf_func() and crashes at (3) because call->perf_events is still NULL CPU1 sees that kprobe functionality is enabled but does not see that perf_events has been assigned. Add pairing read an ---truncated---

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2025-40042 since 04/16/2025. The exploitability is told to be difficult. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 271898 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-40042), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.15.195, 6.1.157, 6.6.113, 6.12.54, 6.17.3 or 6.18-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 95dd33361061f808d1f68616d69ada639e737cfa/a6e89ada1ff6b70df73f579071ffa6ade8ae7f98/1a301228c0a8aedc3154fb1a274456f487416b96/0fa388ab2c290ef1115ff88ae88e881d0fb2db02/5ebea6561649d30ec7a18fea23d7f76738dae916/9cf9aa7b0acfde7545c1a1d912576e9bab28dc6f 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 (271898) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2431). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

  • Google Container-Optimized OS
  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • IBM QRadar SIEM
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Microsoft Azure
  • Dell NetWorker
  • Dell ECS

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.6

VulDB Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Temp Score: 4.6
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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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: No
Local: No
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 271898
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-40042

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.15.195/6.1.157/6.6.113/6.12.54/6.17.3/6.18-rc1
Patch: 95dd33361061f808d1f68616d69ada639e737cfa/a6e89ada1ff6b70df73f579071ffa6ade8ae7f98/1a301228c0a8aedc3154fb1a274456f487416b96/0fa388ab2c290ef1115ff88ae88e881d0fb2db02/5ebea6561649d30ec7a18fea23d7f76738dae916/9cf9aa7b0acfde7545c1a1d912576e9bab28dc6f

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
10/28/2025 +195 days Advisory disclosed
10/28/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
05/19/2026 +203 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-40042 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-40042
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-330264
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2431 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 10/28/2025 14:45
Updated: 05/19/2026 20:38
Changes: 10/28/2025 14:45 (59), 10/29/2025 04:33 (1), 10/29/2025 10:49 (2), 10/30/2025 03:40 (7), 10/30/2025 13:29 (1), 11/24/2025 13:18 (1), 12/22/2025 00:54 (1), 02/08/2026 16:45 (1), 02/15/2026 19:08 (1), 05/19/2026 20:38 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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