CVE-2025-38558
MediumIn the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: usb: gadget: uvc: Initialize frame-based format color matching descriptor Fix NULL pointer crash in uvcg_framebased_make due to uninitialized color matching descriptor for frame-based format which was added in commit f5e7bdd34aca ("usb: gadget: uvc: Allow creating new color matching descriptors") that added handling for uncompressed and mjpeg format. Crash is seen when userspace configuration (via configfs) does not explicitly define the color matching descriptor. If color_matching is not found, config_group_find_item() returns NULL. The code then jumps to out_put_cm, where it calls config_item_put(color_matching);. If color_matching is NULL, this will dereference a null pointer, leading to a crash. [ 2.746440] Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 000000000000008c [ 2.756273] Mem abort info: [ 2.760080] ESR = 0x0000000096000005 [ 2.764872] EC = 0x25: DABT (current EL), IL = 32 bits [ 2.771068] SET = 0, FnV = 0 [ 2.771069] EA = 0, S1PTW = 0 [ 2.771070] FSC = 0x05: level 1 translation fault [ 2.771071] Data abort info: [ 2.771072] ISV = 0, ISS = 0x00000005, ISS2 = 0x00000000 [ 2.771073] CM = 0, WnR = 0, TnD = 0, TagAccess = 0 [ 2.771074] GCS = 0, Overlay = 0, DirtyBit = 0, Xs = 0 [ 2.771075] user pgtable: 4k pages, 39-bit VAs, pgdp=00000000a3e59000 [ 2.771077] [000000000000008c] pgd=0000000000000000, p4d=0000000000000000, pud=0000000000000000 [ 2.771081] Internal error: Oops: 0000000096000005 [#1] PREEMPT SMP [ 2.771084] Dumping ftrace buffer: [ 2.771085] (ftrace buffer empty) [ 2.771138] CPU: 7 PID: 486 Comm: ln Tainted: G W E 6.6.58-android15 [ 2.771139] Hardware name: Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. SunP QRD HDK (DT) [ 2.771140] pstate: 61400005 (nZCv daif +PAN -UAO -TCO +DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) [ 2.771141] pc : __uvcg_fill_strm+0x198/0x2cc [ 2.771145] lr : __uvcg_iter_strm_cls+0xc8/0x17c [ 2.771146] sp : ffffffc08140bbb0 [ 2.771146] x29: ffffffc08140bbb0 x28: ffffff803bc81380 x27: ffffff8023bbd250 [ 2.771147] x26: ffffff8023bbd250 x25: ffffff803c361348 x24: ffffff803d8e6768 [ 2.771148] x23: 0000000000000004 x22: 0000000000000003 x21: ffffffc08140bc48 [ 2.771149] x20: 0000000000000000 x19: ffffffc08140bc48 x18: ffffffe9f8cf4a00 [ 2.771150] x17: 000000001bf64ec3 x16: 000000001bf64ec3 x15: ffffff8023bbd250 [ 2.771151] x14: 000000000000000f x13: 004c4b40000f4240 x12: 000a2c2a00051615 [ 2.771152] x11: 000000000000004f x10: ffffffe9f76b40ec x9 : ffffffe9f7e389d0 [ 2.771153] x8 : ffffff803d0d31ce x7 : 000f4240000a2c2a x6 : 0005161500028b0a [ 2.771154] x5 : ffffff803d0d31ce x4 : 0000000000000003 x3 : 0000000000000000 [ 2.771155] x2 : ffffffc08140bc50 x1 : ffffffc08140bc48 x0 : 0000000000000000 [ 2.771156] Call trace: [ 2.771157] __uvcg_fill_strm+0x198/0x2cc [ 2.771157] __uvcg_iter_strm_cls+0xc8/0x17c [ 2.771158] uvcg_streaming_class_allow_link+0x240/0x290 [ 2.771159] configfs_symlink+0x1f8/0x630 [ 2.771161] vfs_symlink+0x114/0x1a0 [ 2.771163] do_symlinkat+0x94/0x28c [ 2.771164] __arm64_sys_symlinkat+0x54/0x70 [ 2.771164] invoke_syscall+0x58/0x114 [ 2.771166] el0_svc_common+0x80/0xe0 [ 2.771168] do_el0_svc+0x1c/0x28 [ 2.771169] el0_svc+0x3c/0x70 [ 2.771172] el0t_64_sync_handler+0x68/0xbc [ 2.771173] el0t_64_sync+0x1a8/0x1ac Initialize color matching descriptor for frame-based format to prevent NULL pointer crash by mirroring the handling done for uncompressed and mjpeg formats.
CVSS 3.1 score
5.5
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness type
CWE-476CVE-2025-38558 is a NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability
What is NULL Pointer Dereference?
The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL, typically causing a crash. Learn more on MITRE CWE
Affected versions
Linux kernel versions
6.13
and later are affected. Fixed in
6.15.10,
6.16.1,
6.17
and their respective stable series.
References
The following references provide additional information about CVE-2025-38558 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.
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PatchKernel patch commithttps://git.kernel.org/stable/c/323a80a1a5ace319a722909c006d5bdb2a35d273
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PatchKernel patch commithttps://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6db61c1aa23075eeee90e083ca3f6567a5635da6
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PatchKernel patch commithttps://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7f8576fc9d1a203d12474bf52710c7af68cae490
Frequently asked questions
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What is CVE-2025-38558?
CVE-2025-38558 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10 , classified as a NULL Pointer Dereference flaw (CWE-476) . It affects Linux kernel versions from 6.13 onward and has been patched in 6.15.10, 6.16.1 and 6.17. CVE-2025-38558 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
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What is the CVSS score for CVE-2025-38558?
CVE-2025-38558 has a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, rated Medium severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. -
Is there a patch available for CVE-2025-38558?
Yes — CVE-2025-38558 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.15.10, 6.16.1 and 6.17. If you are running Linux kernel 6.13 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
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Is CVE-2025-38558 actively exploited?
No — CVE-2025-38558 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.
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What is NULL Pointer Dereference (CWE-476)?
The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL, typically causing a crash. View CWE-476 on MITRE CWE →