CVE-2025-38122: debian linux Null Dereference — Fix

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: gve: add missing NULL check for gve_alloc_pending_packet() in TX DQO gve_alloc_pending_packet() can return NULL, but gve_tx_add_skb_dqo() did not check for this case before dereferencing the returned pointer. Add a missing NULL check to prevent a potential NULL pointer dereference when allocation fails. This improves robustness in low-memory scenarios.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

5.5

MEDIUM

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-476 CWE-476

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
linux	linux_kernel	5.14 — 5.15.186
linux	linux_kernel	5.16 — 6.1.142
linux	linux_kernel	6.2 — 6.6.94
linux	linux_kernel	6.7 — 6.12.34
linux	linux_kernel	6.13 — 6.15.3
debian	debian_linux	All

References

Advisories & Patches

https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/12c331b29c7397ac3b03584e12902990693bc248 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2e5ead9e4e91fbe7799bd38afd8904543be1cb51 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7f6265fce3bd424ded666481b37f106d7915fb6b https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a0319c9b1648a67511e947a596ca86888451c0a7 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ae98a1787fdcb0096d122bc80d93c3c7d812c04b https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c741a7ef68023ac800054e2131c3e22e647fd7e3

Other References

https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/10/msg00008.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-38122? +

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: gve: add missing NULL check for gve_alloc_pending_packet() in TX DQO gve_alloc_pending_packet() can return NULL, but gve_tx_add_skb_dqo() did not check for this case before dereferencing the returned pointer. Add a missing NULL check to prevent a potential NULL pointer dereference when allocation fails. This improves robustness in low-memory scenarios. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.5 (MEDIUM).

How severe is CVE-2025-38122? +

CVE-2025-38122 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 5.5 out of 10, rated MEDIUM. This is a medium-severity vulnerability that should be remediated as part of regular maintenance.

What products are affected by CVE-2025-38122? +

CVE-2025-38122 affects products from debian, linux, specifically: debian_linux, linux_kernel. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2025-38122? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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