CVE-2025-38589

Medium

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: neighbour: Fix null-ptr-deref in neigh_flush_dev(). kernel test robot reported null-ptr-deref in neigh_flush_dev(). [0] The cited commit introduced per-netdev neighbour list and converted neigh_flush_dev() to use it instead of the global hash table. One thing we missed is that neigh_table_clear() calls neigh_ifdown() with NULL dev. Let's restore the hash table iteration. Note that IPv6 module is no longer unloadable, so neigh_table_clear() is called only when IPv6 fails to initialise, which is unlikely to happen. [0]: IPv6: Attempt to unregister permanent protocol 136 IPv6: Attempt to unregister permanent protocol 17 Oops: general protection fault, probably for non-canonical address 0xdffffc00000001a0: 0000 [#1] SMP KASAN KASAN: null-ptr-deref in range [0x0000000000000d00-0x0000000000000d07] CPU: 1 UID: 0 PID: 1 Comm: systemd Tainted: G T 6.12.0-rc6-01246-gf7f52738637f #1 Tainted: [T]=RANDSTRUCT Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.16.2-debian-1.16.2-1 04/01/2014 RIP: 0010:neigh_flush_dev.llvm.6395807810224103582+0x52/0x570 Code: c1 e8 03 42 8a 04 38 84 c0 0f 85 15 05 00 00 31 c0 41 83 3e 0a 0f 94 c0 48 8d 1c c3 48 81 c3 f8 0c 00 00 48 89 d8 48 c1 e8 03 <42> 80 3c 38 00 74 08 48 89 df e8 f7 49 93 fe 4c 8b 3b 4d 85 ff 0f RSP: 0000:ffff88810026f408 EFLAGS: 00010206 RAX: 00000000000001a0 RBX: 0000000000000d00 RCX: 0000000000000000 RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: 0000000000000000 RDI: ffffffffc0631640 RBP: ffff88810026f470 R08: 0000000000000000 R09: 0000000000000000 R10: 0000000000000000 R11: 0000000000000000 R12: 0000000000000000 R13: ffffffffc0625250 R14: ffffffffc0631640 R15: dffffc0000000000 FS: 00007f575cb83940(0000) GS:ffff8883aee00000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 00007f575db40008 CR3: 00000002bf936000 CR4: 00000000000406f0 DR0: 0000000000000000 DR1: 0000000000000000 DR2: 0000000000000000 DR3: 0000000000000000 DR6: 00000000fffe0ff0 DR7: 0000000000000400 Call Trace: <TASK> __neigh_ifdown.llvm.6395807810224103582+0x44/0x390 neigh_table_clear+0xb1/0x268 ndisc_cleanup+0x21/0x38 [ipv6] init_module+0x2f5/0x468 [ipv6] do_one_initcall+0x1ba/0x628 do_init_module+0x21a/0x530 load_module+0x2550/0x2ea0 __se_sys_finit_module+0x3d2/0x620 __x64_sys_finit_module+0x76/0x88 x64_sys_call+0x7ff/0xde8 do_syscall_64+0xfb/0x1e8 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x67/0x6f RIP: 0033:0x7f575d6f2719 Code: 08 89 e8 5b 5d c3 66 2e 0f 1f 84 00 00 00 00 00 90 48 89 f8 48 89 f7 48 89 d6 48 89 ca 4d 89 c2 4d 89 c8 4c 8b 4c 24 08 0f 05 <48> 3d 01 f0 ff ff 73 01 c3 48 8b 0d b7 06 0d 00 f7 d8 64 89 01 48 RSP: 002b:00007fff82a2a268 EFLAGS: 00000246 ORIG_RAX: 0000000000000139 RAX: ffffffffffffffda RBX: 0000557827b45310 RCX: 00007f575d6f2719 RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: 00007f575d584efd RDI: 0000000000000004 RBP: 00007f575d584efd R08: 0000000000000000 R09: 0000557827b47b00 R10: 0000000000000004 R11: 0000000000000246 R12: 0000000000020000 R13: 0000000000000000 R14: 0000557827b470e0 R15: 00007f575dbb4270 </TASK> Modules linked in: ipv6(+)

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2025-08-19
Last modified 2025-11-26
CVSS version 3.1
Patch available
Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

5.5

out of 10
Medium
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
None
Availability
High
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Weakness type

CWE-476

CVE-2025-38589 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.

Affected from
≥ 6.13
Fixed in
✓ 6.15.10 6.15.x ✓ 6.16.1 6.16.x ✓ 6.17

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2025-38589 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2025-38589?

    CVE-2025-38589 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-2025-38589 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • What is the CVSS score for CVE-2025-38589?

    CVE-2025-38589 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-2025-38589?

    Yes — CVE-2025-38589 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.

  • Is CVE-2025-38589 actively exploited?

    No — CVE-2025-38589 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.

  • 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 →

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