Linux Kernel up to 6.19.5 try_to_free_buffers null pointer dereference

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4.6	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.164/6.6.127/6.12.74/6.18.15/6.19.5. This affects the function try_to_free_buffers. This manipulation causes null pointer dereference. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-71295. There is no exploit available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.164/6.6.127/6.12.74/6.18.15/6.19.5. Affected by this vulnerability is the function try_to_free_buffers. 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. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs/buffer: add alert in try_to_free_buffers() for folios without buffers try_to_free_buffers() can be called on folios with no buffers attached when filemap_release_folio() is invoked on a folio belonging to a mapping with AS_RELEASE_ALWAYS set but no release_folio operation defined. In such cases, folio_needs_release() returns true because of the AS_RELEASE_ALWAYS flag, but the folio has no private buffer data. This causes try_to_free_buffers() to call drop_buffers() on a folio with no buffers, leading to a null pointer dereference. Adding a check in try_to_free_buffers() to return early if the folio has no buffers attached, with WARN_ON_ONCE() to alert about the misconfiguration. This provides defensive hardening.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-71295 since 05/06/2026. The exploitation appears to be difficult. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 315658 (Amazon Linux 2023 : bpftool6.18, kernel6.18, kernel6.18-devel (ALAS2023-2026-1702)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.165, 6.6.128, 6.12.75, 6.18.16 or 6.19.6 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 1b111a69a6e33a922622bf9870e4e63fb2b649c8/c1b6227555c52781178132b7a06466711855795c/727e5140e0cf83b4ce6a11b89bb73bff5d96f8f3/42c32d7571ccd8ef32351cac506f00b0fae99fd2/c6246ca15999053d2632fbcc7b86e6eef7f077cb/b68f91ef3b3fe82ad78c417de71b675699a8467c 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 (315658) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-1405). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Affected

• Google Container-Optimized OS
• Debian Linux
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• SUSE openSUSE
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Microsoft Azure Linux
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• Proxmox Virtual Environment

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.1.164
• 6.6.127
• 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
• 6.12.54
• 6.12.55
• 6.12.56
• 6.12.57
• 6.12.58
• 6.12.59
• 6.12.60
• 6.12.61
• 6.12.62
• 6.12.63
• 6.12.64
• 6.12.65
• 6.12.66
• 6.12.67
• 6.12.68
• 6.12.69
• 6.12.70
• 6.12.71
• 6.12.72
• 6.12.73
• 6.12.74
• 6.18.0
• 6.18.1
• 6.18.2
• 6.18.3
• 6.18.4
• 6.18.5
• 6.18.6
• 6.18.7
• 6.18.8
• 6.18.9
• 6.18.10
• 6.18.11
• 6.18.12
• 6.18.13
• 6.18.14
• 6.18.15
• 6.19.0
• 6.19.1
• 6.19.2
• 6.19.3
• 6.19.4
• 6.19.5

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
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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
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Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
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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: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
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Nessus ID: 315658
Nessus Name: Amazon Linux 2023 : bpftool6.18, kernel6.18, kernel6.18-devel (ALAS2023-2026-1702)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.1.165/6.6.128/6.12.75/6.18.16/6.19.6
Patch: 1b111a69a6e33a922622bf9870e4e63fb2b649c8/c1b6227555c52781178132b7a06466711855795c/727e5140e0cf83b4ce6a11b89bb73bff5d96f8f3/42c32d7571ccd8ef32351cac506f00b0fae99fd2/c6246ca15999053d2632fbcc7b86e6eef7f077cb/b68f91ef3b3fe82ad78c417de71b675699a8467c

Timelineinfo

05/06/2026 Advisory disclosed
05/06/2026 +0 days CVE reserved
05/06/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
07/23/2026 +78 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-71295 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-71295
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-361369
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2026-1405 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 05/06/2026 16:23
Updated: 07/23/2026 03:45
Changes: 05/06/2026 16:23 (58), 05/18/2026 14:52 (7), 05/20/2026 23:54 (2), 07/23/2026 03:45 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Discussion

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