UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38621: Null Pointer Dereference

Q: Which systems are exposed to this issue?

The affected Ubuntu kernel package families listed are linux-azure-fde, linux-riscv, linux-realtime, linux-hwe-edge, linux-azure, linux-gcp, linux-gke, and linux-gkeop. The failure occurs in the Linux MD (multiple-device/RAID) subsystem.

Q: What access does an attacker need?

The supplied severity vector indicates local access, low attack complexity, low privileges required, and no user interaction. The reported impact is availability only; confidentiality and integrity impacts are listed as none.

Q: What symptom can indicate that a system is affected?

The reported testcase causes a kernel NULL-pointer dereference in rdev_addable during MD synchronization work. The stack trace includes md_start_sync and an md_misc workqueue worker, and may result in a kernel panic.

Q: What kernel condition causes the crash?

rdev_addable can be called while protected by an RCU read-side critical section, but the associated rdev->mddev can be set to NULL before the relevant RCU grace period completes. The fix uses READ_ONCE and verifies that rdev->mddev is still valid before using it.

Published Aug 22, 2025

Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: md: make rdevaddable usable for rcu mode Our testcase trigger panic: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 00000000000000e0 ... Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI CPU: 2 UID: 0 PID: 85 Comm: kworker/2:1 Not tainted 6.16.0+ #94 PREEMPT(none) Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.16.1-2.fc37 04/01/2014 Workqueue: mdmisc mdstartsync RIP: 0010:rdevaddable+0x4d/0xf0 ... Call Trace: <TASK> mdstartsync+0x329/0x480 processonework+0x226/0x6d0 workerthread+0x19e/0x340 kthread+0x10f/0x250 retfromfork+0x14d/0x180 retfromforkasm+0x1a/0x30 </TASK> Modules linked in: raid10 CR2: 00000000000000e0 ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- RIP: 0010:rdevaddable+0x4d/0xf0 mdsparesneedchange in mdstartsync will call rdevaddable which protected by rcureadlock/rcureadunlock. This rcu context will help protect rdev won't be released, but rdev->mddev will be set to NULL before we call synchronizercu in mdkickrdevfromarray. Fix this by using READONCE and check does rdev->mddev still alive.

Affected Software

134 affected componentsFixes available

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*

ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-hwe*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-oem*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-gke*

ubuntu/linux-gke-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-raspi2*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8<6.8.0-1069.74~22.04.1

6.8.0-1069.74~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8<6.8.0-1073.82~22.04.1

6.8.0-1073.82~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8<6.8.0-1071.78~22.04.1

6.8.0-1071.78~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8<6.8.0-1073.81~22.04.1

6.8.0-1073.81~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8<6.8.0-1069.70~22.04.1

6.8.0-1069.70~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8<6.8.0-149.149.1~22.04.1

6.8.0-149.149.1~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8<6.8.0-1067.71~22.04.1

6.8.0-1067.71~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8<6.8.1-1064.65~22.04.1

6.8.1-1064.65~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux<6.8.0-149.149

6.8.0-149.149

ubuntu/linux-aws<6.8.0-1069.74

6.8.0-1069.74

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-azure<6.8.0-1073.82

6.8.0-1073.82

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia*

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gcp<6.8.0-1073.81

6.8.0-1073.81

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gke<6.8.0-1068.77

6.8.0-1068.77

ubuntu/linux-gkeop<6.8.0-1053.57

6.8.0-1053.57

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-ibm<6.8.0-1069.70

6.8.0-1069.70

ubuntu/linux-intel*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<6.8.0-149.149.1

6.8.0-149.149.1

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia<6.8.0-1067.70

6.8.0-1067.70

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-oracle<6.8.0-1067.71

6.8.0-1067.71

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-raspi<6.8.0-1068.72

6.8.0-1068.72

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-vmware<6.8.0-1010.10

6.8.0-1010.10

ubuntu/linux-xilinx*

ubuntu/linux-bluefield<6.8.0-1036.41

6.8.0-1036.41

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime<6.8.0-2056.58

6.8.0-2056.58

ubuntu/linux-realtime<6.8.1-1064.65

6.8.1-1064.65

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<6.8.0-1069.74+fips1

6.8.0-1069.74+fips1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<6.8.0-1073.82+fips1

6.8.0-1073.82+fips1

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<6.8.0-1073.81+fips1

6.8.0-1073.81+fips1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-vmware*

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.74~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1073.82~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.78~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1073.81~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.70~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-149.149.1~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.71~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.1-1064.65~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-149.149
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.74
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1073.82
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1073.81
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1068.77
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1053.57
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.70
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-149.149.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.70
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.71
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1068.72
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-vmware to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1010.10
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1036.41
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-2056.58
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.1-1064.65
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.74+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1073.82+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1073.81+fips1

Event History

Aug 22, 2025

CVE Published

via OSV·04:15 PM

Data Sourced

via OSV·04:15 PM

DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

Which systems are exposed to this issue?

The affected Ubuntu kernel package families listed are linux-azure-fde, linux-riscv, linux-realtime, linux-hwe-edge, linux-azure, linux-gcp, linux-gke, and linux-gkeop. The failure occurs in the Linux MD (multiple-device/RAID) subsystem.

What access does an attacker need?

The supplied severity vector indicates local access, low attack complexity, low privileges required, and no user interaction. The reported impact is availability only; confidentiality and integrity impacts are listed as none.

What symptom can indicate that a system is affected?

The reported testcase causes a kernel NULL-pointer dereference in rdev_addable during MD synchronization work. The stack trace includes md_start_sync and an md_misc workqueue worker, and may result in a kernel panic.

What kernel condition causes the crash?

rdev_addable can be called while protected by an RCU read-side critical section, but the associated rdev->mddev can be set to NULL before the relevant RCU grace period completes. The fix uses READ_ONCE and verifies that rdev->mddev is still valid before using it.

UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38621: Null Pointer Dereference

Affected Software

Remediation

Event History

Frequently Asked Questions

Which systems are exposed to this issue?

What access does an attacker need?

What symptom can indicate that a system is affected?

What kernel condition causes the crash?

Company

Resources

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