Linux Kernel up to 6.17.3 pid_nr_ns null pointer dereference

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4.6	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.17.3. This issue affects the function pid_nr_ns. Executing a manipulation can lead to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2025-40178. There is no available exploit. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.17.3 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects the function pid_nr_ns. 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: pid: Add a judgment for ns null in pid_nr_ns __task_pid_nr_ns ns = task_active_pid_ns(current); pid_nr_ns(rcu_dereference(*task_pid_ptr(task, type)), ns); if (pid && ns->level <= pid->level) { Sometimes null is returned for task_active_pid_ns. Then it will trigger kernel panic in pid_nr_ns. For example: Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 0000000000000058 Mem abort info: ESR = 0x0000000096000007 EC = 0x25: DABT (current EL), IL = 32 bits SET = 0, FnV = 0 EA = 0, S1PTW = 0 FSC = 0x07: level 3 translation fault Data abort info: ISV = 0, ISS = 0x00000007, ISS2 = 0x00000000 CM = 0, WnR = 0, TnD = 0, TagAccess = 0 GCS = 0, Overlay = 0, DirtyBit = 0, Xs = 0 user pgtable: 4k pages, 39-bit VAs, pgdp=00000002175aa000 [0000000000000058] pgd=08000002175ab003, p4d=08000002175ab003, pud=08000002175ab003, pmd=08000002175be003, pte=0000000000000000 pstate: 834000c5 (Nzcv daIF +PAN -UAO +TCO +DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) pc : __task_pid_nr_ns+0x74/0xd0 lr : __task_pid_nr_ns+0x24/0xd0 sp : ffffffc08001bd10 x29: ffffffc08001bd10 x28: ffffffd4422b2000 x27: 0000000000000001 x26: ffffffd442821168 x25: ffffffd442821000 x24: 00000f89492eab31 x23: 00000000000000c0 x22: ffffff806f5693c0 x21: ffffff806f5693c0 x20: 0000000000000001 x19: 0000000000000000 x18: 0000000000000000 x17: 00000000529c6ef0 x16: 00000000529c6ef0 x15: 00000000023a1adc x14: 0000000000000003 x13: 00000000007ef6d8 x12: 001167c391c78800 x11: 00ffffffffffffff x10: 0000000000000000 x9 : 0000000000000001 x8 : ffffff80816fa3c0 x7 : 0000000000000000 x6 : 49534d702d535449 x5 : ffffffc080c4c2c0 x4 : ffffffd43ee128c8 x3 : ffffffd43ee124dc x2 : 0000000000000000 x1 : 0000000000000001 x0 : ffffff806f5693c0 Call trace: __task_pid_nr_ns+0x74/0xd0 ... __handle_irq_event_percpu+0xd4/0x284 handle_irq_event+0x48/0xb0 handle_fasteoi_irq+0x160/0x2d8 generic_handle_domain_irq+0x44/0x60 gic_handle_irq+0x4c/0x114 call_on_irq_stack+0x3c/0x74 do_interrupt_handler+0x4c/0x84 el1_interrupt+0x34/0x58 el1h_64_irq_handler+0x18/0x24 el1h_64_irq+0x68/0x6c account_kernel_stack+0x60/0x144 exit_task_stack_account+0x1c/0x80 do_exit+0x7e4/0xaf8 ... get_signal+0x7bc/0x8d8 do_notify_resume+0x128/0x828 el0_svc+0x6c/0x70 el0t_64_sync_handler+0x68/0xbc el0t_64_sync+0x1a8/0x1ac Code: 35fffe54 911a02a8 f9400108 b4000128 (b9405a69) ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- Kernel panic - not syncing: Oops: Fatal exception in interrupt

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-40178 since 04/16/2025. The exploitation appears to be difficult. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 275361 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-40178), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.4.301, 5.10.246, 5.15.195, 6.1.157, 6.6.113, 6.12.54, 6.17.4 or 6.18-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 75dbc029c5359438be4a6f908bfbfdab969af776/c2d09d724856b6f82ab688f65fc1ce833bb56333/c3b654021931dc806ba086c549e8756c3f204a67/e10c36a771c5cc910abd9fe4aa9033ee32a47c38/09d227c59d97efda7d5cc878a4335a6b2bb224c2/2076b916bf41be48799d1443df0f8fc75d12ccd0/a0212978af1825b37da0b453b94d9b0e5af11478/006568ab4c5ca2309ceb36fa553e390b4aa9c0c7 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 (275361) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2595). 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
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• SUSE openSUSE
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• RESF Rocky Linux

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.0
• 5.1
• 5.2
• 5.3
• 5.4.300
• 5.10.245
• 5.15.194
• 6.1.156
• 6.6.112
• 6.12.0
• 6.12.1
• 6.12.2
• 6.12.3
• 6.12.4
• 6.12.5
• 6.12.6
• 6.12.7
• 6.12.8
• 6.12.9
• 6.12.10
• 6.12.11
• 6.12.12
• 6.12.13
• 6.12.14
• 6.12.15
• 6.12.16
• 6.12.17
• 6.12.18
• 6.12.19
• 6.12.20
• 6.12.21
• 6.12.22
• 6.12.23
• 6.12.24
• 6.12.25
• 6.12.26
• 6.12.27
• 6.12.28
• 6.12.29
• 6.12.30
• 6.12.31
• 6.12.32
• 6.12.33
• 6.12.34
• 6.12.35
• 6.12.36
• 6.12.37
• 6.12.38
• 6.12.39
• 6.12.40
• 6.12.41
• 6.12.42
• 6.12.43
• 6.12.44
• 6.12.45
• 6.12.46
• 6.12.47
• 6.12.48
• 6.12.49
• 6.12.50
• 6.12.51
• 6.12.52
• 6.12.53
• 6.17.0
• 6.17.1
• 6.17.2
• 6.17.3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
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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

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
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Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

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: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Nessus ID: 275361
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-40178

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.4.301/5.10.246/5.15.195/6.1.157/6.6.113/6.12.54/6.17.4/6.18-rc1
Patch: 75dbc029c5359438be4a6f908bfbfdab969af776/c2d09d724856b6f82ab688f65fc1ce833bb56333/c3b654021931dc806ba086c549e8756c3f204a67/e10c36a771c5cc910abd9fe4aa9033ee32a47c38/09d227c59d97efda7d5cc878a4335a6b2bb224c2/2076b916bf41be48799d1443df0f8fc75d12ccd0/a0212978af1825b37da0b453b94d9b0e5af11478/006568ab4c5ca2309ceb36fa553e390b4aa9c0c7

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
11/13/2025 +211 days Advisory disclosed
11/13/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
02/05/2026 +84 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-40178 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-40178
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-332248
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2595 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 11/13/2025 07:28
Updated: 02/05/2026 11:12
Changes: 11/13/2025 07:28 (58), 11/13/2025 08:18 (1), 11/13/2025 17:08 (7), 11/13/2025 19:32 (2), 12/01/2025 14:10 (1), 12/21/2025 20:23 (1), 02/05/2026 11:12 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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