Linux Kernel up to 6.6.121/6.12.67/6.18.7/6.19-rc6 iio st_lsm6dsx_write_event event_spec 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 was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.121/6.12.67/6.18.7/6.19-rc6. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is the function st_lsm6dsx_write_event of the component iio. This manipulation of the argument event_spec causes null pointer dereference. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2025-71198. There is no available exploit. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.121/6.12.67/6.18.7/6.19-rc6. Affected by this vulnerability is the function st_lsm6dsx_write_event of the component iio. The manipulation of the argument event_spec 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. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: iio: imu: st_lsm6dsx: fix iio_chan_spec for sensors without event detection The st_lsm6dsx_acc_channels array of struct iio_chan_spec has a non-NULL event_spec field, indicating support for IIO events. However, event detection is not supported for all sensors, and if userspace tries to configure accelerometer wakeup events on a sensor device that does not support them (e.g. LSM6DS0), st_lsm6dsx_write_event() dereferences a NULL pointer when trying to write to the wakeup register. Define an additional struct iio_chan_spec array whose members have a NULL event_spec field, and use this array instead of st_lsm6dsx_acc_channels for sensors without event detection capability.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-71198 since 01/31/2026. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 297916 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-71198), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.6.122, 6.12.68, 6.18.8 or 6.19-rc7 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 7673167fac9323110973a3300637adba7d45de3a/4d60ffcdedfe2cdb68a1cde19bb292bc67451629/81ed6e42d6e555dd978c9dd5e3f7c20cb121221b/c34e2e2d67b3bb8d5a6d09b0d6dac845cdd13fb3 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 (297916) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-0324). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Affected

  • Debian Linux
  • Google Cloud Platform
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • IBM QRadar SIEM
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Open Source Linux Kernel

Productinfo

Type

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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

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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: 297916
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-71198

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.6.122/6.12.68/6.18.8/6.19-rc7
Patch: 7673167fac9323110973a3300637adba7d45de3a/4d60ffcdedfe2cdb68a1cde19bb292bc67451629/81ed6e42d6e555dd978c9dd5e3f7c20cb121221b/c34e2e2d67b3bb8d5a6d09b0d6dac845cdd13fb3

Timelineinfo

01/31/2026 CVE reserved
02/04/2026 +4 days Advisory disclosed
02/04/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
04/30/2026 +84 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-71198 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-71198
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-344323
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2026-0324 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 02/04/2026 18:15
Updated: 04/30/2026 01:47
Changes: 02/04/2026 18:15 (60), 02/05/2026 15:20 (7), 02/06/2026 13:08 (2), 04/30/2026 01:47 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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