Linux Kernel up to 6.17.4/6.18-rc1 null pointer dereference

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Linux Kernel up to 6.17.4/6.18-rc1. This impacts an unknown function. Such manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2025-40097. There is no available exploit. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.17.4/6.18-rc1 and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is an unknown functionality. 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. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ALSA: hda: Fix missing pointer check in hda_component_manager_init function The __component_match_add function may assign the 'matchptr' pointer the value ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM), which will subsequently be dereferenced. The call stack leading to the error looks like this: hda_component_manager_init |-> component_match_add |-> component_match_add_release |-> __component_match_add ( ... ,**matchptr, ... ) |-> *matchptr = ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM); // assign |-> component_master_add_with_match( ... match) |-> component_match_realloc(match, match->num); // dereference Add IS_ERR() check to prevent the crash. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with SVACE.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2025-40097 since 04/16/2025. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 272054 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-40097), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.17.5 or 6.18-rc2 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 47d1b9ca923b55c3f407788f1f15b04957e0e027/1cf11d80db5df805b538c942269e05a65bcaf5bc 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 (272054) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2450). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Affected

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

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.7
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.5

VulDB Base Score: 5.7
VulDB Temp Score: 5.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

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: No
Local: No
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 272054
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-40097

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.17.5/6.18-rc2
Patch: 47d1b9ca923b55c3f407788f1f15b04957e0e027/1cf11d80db5df805b538c942269e05a65bcaf5bc

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
10/30/2025 +197 days Advisory disclosed
10/30/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
02/16/2026 +108 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-40097 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-40097
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-330548
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2450 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 10/30/2025 14:06
Updated: 02/16/2026 00:06
Changes: 10/30/2025 14:06 (57), 10/30/2025 17:43 (7), 11/01/2025 13:04 (2), 12/21/2025 23:48 (1), 02/16/2026 00:06 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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