CVE-2025-68808: media: vidtv: initialize local pointers upon transfer of memory ownership

Published Jan 13, 2026
·
Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

media: vidtv: initialize local pointers upon transfer of memory ownership

vidtvchannelsiinit() creates a temporary list (program, service, event) and ownership of the memory itself is transferred to the PAT/SDT/EIT tables through vidtvpsipatprogramassign(), vidtvpsisdtserviceassign(), vidtvpsieiteventassign().

The problem here is that the local pointer where the memory ownership transfer was completed is not initialized to NULL. This causes the vidtvpsipmtcreatesecforeachpatentry() function to fail, and in the flow that jumps to freeeit, the memory that was freed by vidtvpsitabledestroy() can be accessed again by vidtvpsieventdestroy() due to the uninitialized local pointer, so it is freed once again.

Therefore, to prevent use-after-free and double-free vulnerability, local pointers must be initialized to NULL when transferring memory ownership.

Affected Software

2 affected componentsFixes available
Linux Linux kernel
debian/linux
6.1.176-16.1.190-16.12.107-16.12.115-27.2.12-17.2.15-1

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.1.176-1Fixed in 6.1.190-1Fixed in 6.12.107-1Fixed in 6.12.113-1Fixed in 7.2.12-1Fixed in 7.2.13-1

Event History

Jan 13, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·03:29 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·03:29 PM
DescriptionSeverity
Data Sourced
via NVD·04:16 PM
DescriptionSeverity
Jan 15, 2026
Data Sourced
via Microsoft·09:02 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

Peer vulnerabilities

Found alongside the following vulnerabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2025-68808?

CVE-2025-68808 is classified as a medium-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel.

2

How do I fix CVE-2025-68808?

To fix CVE-2025-68808, you should update the Linux kernel to the latest version where the vulnerability is patched.

3

What are the risks associated with CVE-2025-68808?

The risks associated with CVE-2025-68808 include potential memory corruption and instability in applications that rely on the affected kernel component.

4

Which versions of the Linux kernel are affected by CVE-2025-68808?

CVE-2025-68808 affects various versions of the Linux kernel prior to the implementation of the fix.

5

What components of the Linux kernel does CVE-2025-68808 impact?

CVE-2025-68808 specifically impacts the media subsystem, particularly the vidtv component of the Linux kernel.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203