Linux Kernel up to 6.19-rc1 kernel/tracepoint.c sys_perf_event_open null pointer dereference

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4.9$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.159/6.6.119/6.12.63/6.18.2/6.19-rc1. This affects the function sys_perf_event_open of the file kernel/tracepoint.c. The manipulation leads to an unknown weakness. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2025-71125. There is no available exploit. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.159/6.6.119/6.12.63/6.18.2/6.19-rc1. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function sys_perf_event_open of the file kernel/tracepoint.c. 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. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tracing: Do not register unsupported perf events Synthetic events currently do not have a function to register perf events. This leads to calling the tracepoint register functions with a NULL function pointer which triggers: ------------[ cut here ]------------ WARNING: kernel/tracepoint.c:175 at tracepoint_add_func+0x357/0x370, CPU#2: perf/2272 Modules linked in: kvm_intel kvm irqbypass CPU: 2 UID: 0 PID: 2272 Comm: perf Not tainted 6.18.0-ftest-11964-ge022764176fc-dirty #323 PREEMPTLAZY Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS 1.17.0-debian-1.17.0-1 04/01/2014 RIP: 0010:tracepoint_add_func+0x357/0x370 Code: 28 9c e8 4c 0b f5 ff eb 0f 4c 89 f7 48 c7 c6 80 4d 28 9c e8 ab 89 f4 ff 31 c0 5b 41 5c 41 5d 41 5e 41 5f 5d c3 cc cc cc cc cc <0f> 0b 49 c7 c6 ea ff ff ff e9 ee fe ff ff 0f 0b e9 f9 fe ff ff 0f RSP: 0018:ffffabc0c44d3c40 EFLAGS: 00010246 RAX: 0000000000000001 RBX: ffff9380aa9e4060 RCX: 0000000000000000 RDX: 000000000000000a RSI: ffffffff9e1d4a98 RDI: ffff937fcf5fd6c8 RBP: 0000000000000001 R08: 0000000000000007 R09: ffff937fcf5fc780 R10: 0000000000000003 R11: ffffffff9c193910 R12: 000000000000000a R13: ffffffff9e1e5888 R14: 0000000000000000 R15: ffffabc0c44d3c78 FS: 00007f6202f5f340(0000) GS:ffff93819f00f000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 000055d3162281a8 CR3: 0000000106a56003 CR4: 0000000000172ef0 Call Trace: <TASK> tracepoint_probe_register+0x5d/0x90 synth_event_reg+0x3c/0x60 perf_trace_event_init+0x204/0x340 perf_trace_init+0x85/0xd0 perf_tp_event_init+0x2e/0x50 perf_try_init_event+0x6f/0x230 ? perf_event_alloc+0x4bb/0xdc0 perf_event_alloc+0x65a/0xdc0 __se_sys_perf_event_open+0x290/0x9f0 do_syscall_64+0x93/0x7b0 ? entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e ? trace_hardirqs_off+0x53/0xc0 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e Instead, have the code return -ENODEV, which doesn't warn and has perf error out with: # perf record -e synthetic:futex_wait Error: The sys_perf_event_open() syscall returned with 19 (No such device) for event (synthetic:futex_wait). "dmesg | grep -i perf" may provide additional information. Ideally perf should support synthetic events, but for now just fix the warning. The support can come later.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-71125 since 01/13/2026. The exploitation is known to be difficult. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 298680 (Debian dla-4475 : ata-modules-5.10.0-35-armmp-di - security update), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.160, 6.6.120, 6.12.64, 6.18.3 or 6.19-rc2 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch f7305697b60d79bc69c0a6e280fc931b4e8862dd/65b1971147ec12f0b1cee0811c859a3d7d9b04ce/3437c775bf209c674ad66304213b6b3c3b1b3f69/6df47e5bb9b62d72f186f826ab643ea1856877c7/ef7f38df890f5dcd2ae62f8dbde191d72f3bebae 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 (298680), EUVD (EUVD-2026-2491) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-0119). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Affected

  • Open Source Linux Kernel

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.9

VulDB Base Score: 4.6
VulDB Temp Score: 4.4
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

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: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 298680
Nessus Name: Debian dla-4475 : ata-modules-5.10.0-35-armmp-di - security update

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.1.160/6.6.120/6.12.64/6.18.3/6.19-rc2
Patch: f7305697b60d79bc69c0a6e280fc931b4e8862dd/65b1971147ec12f0b1cee0811c859a3d7d9b04ce/3437c775bf209c674ad66304213b6b3c3b1b3f69/6df47e5bb9b62d72f186f826ab643ea1856877c7/ef7f38df890f5dcd2ae62f8dbde191d72f3bebae

Timelineinfo

01/13/2026 CVE reserved
01/14/2026 +1 days Advisory disclosed
01/14/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
03/25/2026 +70 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-71125 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-71125
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-341063
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2026-0119 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 01/14/2026 17:20
Updated: 03/25/2026 22:03
Changes: 01/14/2026 17:20 (58), 01/16/2026 05:59 (7), 01/19/2026 18:09 (1), 01/20/2026 10:53 (1), 02/16/2026 14:08 (2), 03/25/2026 22:03 (13)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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