CVE-2025-38111
Analyzed Analyzed - Analysis Complete
BaseFortify

Publication date: 2025-07-03

Last updated on: 2025-12-16

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/mdiobus: Fix potential out-of-bounds read/write access When using publicly available tools like 'mdio-tools' to read/write data from/to network interface and its PHY via mdiobus, there is no verification of parameters passed to the ioctl and it accepts any mdio address. Currently there is support for 32 addresses in kernel via PHY_MAX_ADDR define, but it is possible to pass higher value than that via ioctl. While read/write operation should generally fail in this case, mdiobus provides stats array, where wrong address may allow out-of-bounds read/write. Fix that by adding address verification before read/write operation. While this excludes this access from any statistics, it improves security of read/write operation.
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Meta Information
Published
2025-07-03
Last Modified
2025-12-16
Generated
2026-05-07
AI Q&A
2025-07-03
EPSS Evaluated
2026-05-05
NVD
Affected Vendors & Products
Showing 8 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel From 5.6 (inc) to 5.10.239 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 5.11 (inc) to 5.15.186 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 5.16 (inc) to 6.1.142 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 6.2 (inc) to 6.6.94 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 6.7 (inc) to 6.12.34 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 6.13 (inc) to 6.15.3 (exc)
linux linux_kernel 6.16
debian debian_linux 11.0
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-125 The product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
How can this vulnerability impact me? :

This vulnerability can impact you by allowing out-of-bounds read or write operations in the kernel memory when using mdio-tools or similar interfaces. Such memory corruption could lead to system instability, crashes, or potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges on the affected system.


Can you explain this vulnerability to me?

This vulnerability in the Linux kernel's net/mdiobus subsystem involves a lack of verification for parameters passed to the ioctl interface used by tools like 'mdio-tools' to read/write data to network interfaces and their PHY devices. Specifically, the ioctl accepts any mdio address without checking if it exceeds the maximum supported address (32). This can lead to out-of-bounds read/write access in the kernel's stats array, potentially causing memory corruption or other unintended behavior. The fix adds address verification before read/write operations to prevent this issue.


What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?

Update the Linux kernel to a version where the net/mdiobus vulnerability has been fixed, which includes address verification before read/write operations to prevent out-of-bounds access. Avoid using untrusted or modified versions of 'mdio-tools' that might exploit this issue until the kernel is patched.


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