What is CVE-2025-38668?

CVE-2025-38668 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), affecting Linux kernel versions from 5.3 onward and patched in 5.4.297, 5.10.241, 5.15.190 and others. CVE-2025-38668 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2025-38668?

CVE-2025-38668 has a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, rated Medium severity. 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-2025-38668?

Yes, CVE-2025-38668 has been patched. Fixed versions include 5.4.297, 5.10.241, 5.15.190 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 5.3 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

Is CVE-2025-38668 actively exploited?

CVE-2025-38668 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA 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. See MITRE CWE for full details: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/476.html

CVE-2025-38668

Medium

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: regulator: core: fix NULL dereference on unbind due to stale coupling data Failing to reset coupling_desc.n_coupled after freeing coupled_rdevs can lead to NULL pointer dereference when regulators are accessed post-unbind. This can happen during runtime PM or other regulator operations that rely on coupling metadata. For example, on ridesx4, unbinding the 'reg-dummy' platform device triggers a panic in regulator_lock_recursive() due to stale coupling state. Ensure n_coupled is set to 0 to prevent access to invalid pointers.

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2025-08-22

Last modified 2026-01-08

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-2025-38668 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 5.3 and later are affected. Fixed in 5.4.297, 5.10.241, 5.15.190, 6.1.148, 6.6.101, 6.12.41, 6.15.9, 6.16 and their respective stable series.

Affected from

≥ 5.3

Fixed in

✓ 5.4.297 5.4.x ✓ 5.10.241 5.10.x ✓ 5.15.190 5.15.x ✓ 6.1.148 6.1.x ✓ 6.6.101 6.6.x ✓ 6.12.41 6.12.x ✓ 6.15.9 6.15.x ✓ 6.16

References

10 total

Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/233d3c54c9620e95193923859ea1d0b0f5d748ca

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5d4261dbb3335221fd9c6e69f909ba79ee6663a7

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6c49eac796681e250e34156bafb643930310bd4a

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7574892e259bbb16262ebfb4b65a2054a5e03a49

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/800a2cfb2df7f96b3fb48910fc595e0215f6b019

Patch

Showing 5 of 10 references View all on NVD

Details

CVE ID CVE-2025-38668

Severity Medium

CVSS score 5.5 / 10

CVSS version 3.1

Published 2025-08-22

Modified 2026-01-08

KEV No

Patch

Yes

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2025-38668?

CVE-2025-38668 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 5.3 onward and has been patched in 5.4.297, 5.10.241, 5.15.190 and others. CVE-2025-38668 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2025-38668?

CVE-2025-38668 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-2025-38668?

Yes. CVE-2025-38668 has been patched. Fixed versions include 5.4.297, 5.10.241, 5.15.190 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 5.3 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
Is CVE-2025-38668 actively exploited?

No. CVE-2025-38668 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.