CVE-2025-40178
Unknown Unknown - Not Provided
BaseFortify

Publication date: 2025-11-12

Last updated on: 2025-11-14

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: pid: Add a judgment for ns null in pid_nr_ns __task_pid_nr_ns ns = task_active_pid_ns(current); pid_nr_ns(rcu_dereference(*task_pid_ptr(task, type)), ns); if (pid && ns->level <= pid->level) { Sometimes null is returned for task_active_pid_ns. Then it will trigger kernel panic in pid_nr_ns. For example: Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 0000000000000058 Mem abort info: ESR = 0x0000000096000007 EC = 0x25: DABT (current EL), IL = 32 bits SET = 0, FnV = 0 EA = 0, S1PTW = 0 FSC = 0x07: level 3 translation fault Data abort info: ISV = 0, ISS = 0x00000007, ISS2 = 0x00000000 CM = 0, WnR = 0, TnD = 0, TagAccess = 0 GCS = 0, Overlay = 0, DirtyBit = 0, Xs = 0 user pgtable: 4k pages, 39-bit VAs, pgdp=00000002175aa000 [0000000000000058] pgd=08000002175ab003, p4d=08000002175ab003, pud=08000002175ab003, pmd=08000002175be003, pte=0000000000000000 pstate: 834000c5 (Nzcv daIF +PAN -UAO +TCO +DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) pc : __task_pid_nr_ns+0x74/0xd0 lr : __task_pid_nr_ns+0x24/0xd0 sp : ffffffc08001bd10 x29: ffffffc08001bd10 x28: ffffffd4422b2000 x27: 0000000000000001 x26: ffffffd442821168 x25: ffffffd442821000 x24: 00000f89492eab31 x23: 00000000000000c0 x22: ffffff806f5693c0 x21: ffffff806f5693c0 x20: 0000000000000001 x19: 0000000000000000 x18: 0000000000000000 x17: 00000000529c6ef0 x16: 00000000529c6ef0 x15: 00000000023a1adc x14: 0000000000000003 x13: 00000000007ef6d8 x12: 001167c391c78800 x11: 00ffffffffffffff x10: 0000000000000000 x9 : 0000000000000001 x8 : ffffff80816fa3c0 x7 : 0000000000000000 x6 : 49534d702d535449 x5 : ffffffc080c4c2c0 x4 : ffffffd43ee128c8 x3 : ffffffd43ee124dc x2 : 0000000000000000 x1 : 0000000000000001 x0 : ffffff806f5693c0 Call trace: __task_pid_nr_ns+0x74/0xd0 ... __handle_irq_event_percpu+0xd4/0x284 handle_irq_event+0x48/0xb0 handle_fasteoi_irq+0x160/0x2d8 generic_handle_domain_irq+0x44/0x60 gic_handle_irq+0x4c/0x114 call_on_irq_stack+0x3c/0x74 do_interrupt_handler+0x4c/0x84 el1_interrupt+0x34/0x58 el1h_64_irq_handler+0x18/0x24 el1h_64_irq+0x68/0x6c account_kernel_stack+0x60/0x144 exit_task_stack_account+0x1c/0x80 do_exit+0x7e4/0xaf8 ... get_signal+0x7bc/0x8d8 do_notify_resume+0x128/0x828 el0_svc+0x6c/0x70 el0t_64_sync_handler+0x68/0xbc el0t_64_sync+0x1a8/0x1ac Code: 35fffe54 911a02a8 f9400108 b4000128 (b9405a69) ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- Kernel panic - not syncing: Oops: Fatal exception in interrupt
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Meta Information
Published
2025-11-12
Last Modified
2025-11-14
Generated
2026-05-07
AI Q&A
2025-11-13
EPSS Evaluated
2026-05-05
NVD
CVE-2025-40178
Affected Vendors & Products
Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux kernel *
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-UNKNOWN
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?

This vulnerability occurs in the Linux kernel where a function (__task_pid_nr_ns) does not properly handle a null value returned by task_active_pid_ns. When this null value is dereferenced in pid_nr_ns, it can cause a kernel panic due to a NULL pointer dereference, leading to a fatal exception and system crash.


How can this vulnerability impact me? :

This vulnerability can cause the Linux kernel to panic and crash unexpectedly. This results in system instability and potential downtime, which can disrupt services and operations relying on the affected system.


How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?

This vulnerability can be detected by monitoring for kernel panic logs related to NULL pointer dereferences in the function __task_pid_nr_ns. You should check your system logs (e.g., using 'dmesg' or 'journalctl -k') for messages indicating kernel panics with traces mentioning __task_pid_nr_ns and NULL pointer dereference errors. Example commands include: 'dmesg | grep -i "kernel NULL pointer dereference"' or 'journalctl -k | grep __task_pid_nr_ns'.


What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?

Immediate mitigation steps include updating the Linux kernel to a version where the vulnerability is fixed, as the issue arises from a missing null check in the kernel code. Until an update is applied, avoid workloads or operations that may trigger the kernel panic related to task_active_pid_ns returning null. Monitoring system stability and applying kernel patches as soon as they become available is recommended.


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