CVE-2025-38542: debian linux — Fix

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: appletalk: Fix device refcount leak in atrtr_create() When updating an existing route entry in atrtr_create(), the old device reference was not being released before assigning the new device, leading to a device refcount leak. Fix this by calling dev_put() to release the old device reference before holding the new one.

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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

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
linux	linux_kernel	2.6.13 — 5.4.296
linux	linux_kernel	5.5 — 5.10.240
linux	linux_kernel	5.11 — 5.15.189
linux	linux_kernel	5.16 — 6.1.146
linux	linux_kernel	6.2 — 6.6.99
linux	linux_kernel	6.7 — 6.12.39
linux	linux_kernel	6.13 — 6.15.7
linux	linux_kernel	All
linux	linux_kernel	All
linux	linux_kernel	All
linux	linux_kernel	All
linux	linux_kernel	All
linux	linux_kernel	All
linux	linux_kernel	All
linux	linux_kernel	All
linux	linux_kernel	All
debian	debian_linux	All

References

Advisories & Patches

https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/473f3eadfc73b0fb6d8dee5829d19a5772e387f7 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4a17370da6e476d3d275534e9e9cd2d02c57ca46 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/64124cf0aab0dd1e18c0fb5ae66e45741e727f8b https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/711c80f7d8b163d3ecd463cd96f07230f488e750 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a7852b01793669248dce0348d14df89e77a32afd https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b2f5dfa87367fdce9f8b995bc6c38f64f9ea2c90 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b92bedf71f25303e203a4e657489d76691a58119 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d2e9f50f0bdad73b64a871f25186b899624518c4

Other References

https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/10/msg00007.html https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/10/msg00008.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-38542? +

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: appletalk: Fix device refcount leak in atrtr_create() When updating an existing route entry in atrtr_create(), the old device reference was not being released before assigning the new device, leading to a device refcount leak. Fix this by calling dev_put() to release the old device reference before holding the new one. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.5 (MEDIUM).

How severe is CVE-2025-38542? +

CVE-2025-38542 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-2025-38542? +

CVE-2025-38542 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-2025-38542? +

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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