CVE-2025-38716
BaseFortify
Publication date: 2025-09-04
Last updated on: 2025-11-25
Assigner: kernel.org
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| linux | linux_kernel | From 5.15.160 (inc) to 5.16 (inc) |
| linux | linux_kernel | From 5.15.160 (inc) to 5.16 (inc) |
| linux | linux_kernel | From 5.15.160 (inc) to 5.16 (inc) |
| linux | linux_kernel | From 5.15.160 (inc) to 5.16 (inc) |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-476 | The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL. |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
This vulnerability is a general protection fault in the Linux kernel's hfs_find_init() function. It occurs when the function encounters a NULL tree pointer, which can cause the kernel to crash due to a null pointer dereference.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
This vulnerability can cause the Linux kernel to crash, leading to a denial of service condition. Systems using the affected hfs_find_init() function may become unstable or unresponsive when the fault is triggered.
How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?
This vulnerability manifests as a general protection fault (kernel crash) related to the hfs_find_init() function in the Linux kernel when handling HFS file systems. Detection can be done by monitoring kernel logs for Oops messages or crashes referencing hfs_find_init or related stack traces. You can check kernel logs using commands like 'dmesg | grep -i hfs_find_init' or 'journalctl -k | grep -i hfs_find_init' to identify if the crash has occurred.
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
Immediate mitigation steps include updating the Linux kernel to a version where this vulnerability is fixed, as the issue is resolved in the kernel version referenced. Until the update is applied, avoid mounting or accessing HFS file systems on the affected kernel to prevent triggering the crash.