VDB-336759 · CVE-2025-68177 · Nessus 298897

Linux Kernel up to 6.17.7 cpufreq longhaul_exit null pointer dereference

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5.5	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.17.7 and classified as critical. Impacted is the function longhaul_exit of the component cpufreq. Performing a manipulation results in null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2025-68177. There is no exploit available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.17.7. It has been classified as critical. This affects the function longhaul_exit of the component cpufreq. 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. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: cpufreq/longhaul: handle NULL policy in longhaul_exit longhaul_exit() was calling cpufreq_cpu_get(0) without checking for a NULL policy pointer. On some systems, this could lead to a NULL dereference and a kernel warning or panic. This patch adds a check using unlikely() and returns early if the policy is NULL. Bugzilla: #219962

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-68177 since 12/16/2025. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 298897 (Ubuntu 25.10 : Linux kernel vulnerabilities (USN-8029-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.4.302, 5.10.247, 5.15.197, 6.1.159, 6.6.117, 6.12.58 or 6.17.8 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch b02352dd2e6cca98777714cc2a27553191df70db/956b56d17a89775e4957bbddefa45cd3c6c71000/55cf586b9556863e3c2a45460aba71bcb2be5bcd/fd93e1d71b3b14443092919be12b1abf08de35eb/8d6791c480f22d6e9a566eaa77336d3d37c5c591/64adabb6d9d51b7e7c02fe733346a2c4dd738488/809cf2a7794ca4c14c304b349f4c3ae220701ce4/592532a77b736b5153e0c2e4c74aa50af0a352ab 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 (298897) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2868). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Affected

Debian Linux
Amazon Linux 2
Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Ubuntu Linux
SUSE Linux
Oracle Linux
SUSE openSUSE
RESF Rocky Linux
Open Source Linux Kernel

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: 5.7
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.5

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

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: No
Local: No
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 298897
Nessus Name: Ubuntu 25.10 : Linux kernel vulnerabilities (USN-8029-1)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

12/16/2025 Advisory disclosed
12/16/2025 +0 days CVE reserved
12/16/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
02/21/2026 +67 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-68177 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-68177
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-336759
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2868 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 12/16/2025 16:00
Updated: 02/21/2026 07:23
Changes: 12/16/2025 16:00 (59), 01/14/2026 07:52 (7), 01/19/2026 21:29 (1), 02/03/2026 02:22 (1), 02/15/2026 19:49 (2), 02/21/2026 07:23 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103