UBUNTU-CVE-2025-71295: Null Pointer Dereference

Q: What conditions are required to trigger this issue?

A folio must belong to a mapping with AS_RELEASE_ALWAYS set while no release_folio operation is defined, and the folio must have no attached buffers. When filemap_release_folio() invokes try_to_free_buffers() under those conditions, the kernel can dereference a null buffer pointer.

Q: What is the practical impact if the issue is triggered?

The null pointer dereference can cause a kernel crash or denial of service. The supplied severity vector indicates local access, low attack complexity, and low privileges are required, with availability as the affected security impact.

Q: Which Ubuntu kernel packages are listed as affected?

The listed packages are ubuntu/linux-riscv, ubuntu/linux-realtime, ubuntu/linux-azure, ubuntu/linux-gcp, ubuntu/linux-azure-fde, ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge, ubuntu/linux-gke, and ubuntu/linux-gkeop.

Q: What does the resolution change?

The fix makes try_to_free_buffers() return early when a folio has no attached buffers. It also emits a WARN_ON_ONCE() alert to identify the underlying mapping misconfiguration.

Published May 6, 2026

Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs/buffer: add alert in trytofreebuffers() for folios without buffers trytofreebuffers() can be called on folios with no buffers attached when filemapreleasefolio() is invoked on a folio belonging to a mapping with ASRELEASEALWAYS set but no releasefolio operation defined. In such cases, folioneedsrelease() returns true because of the ASRELEASEALWAYS flag, but the folio has no private buffer data. This causes trytofreebuffers() to call dropbuffers() on a folio with no buffers, leading to a null pointer dereference. Adding a check in trytofreebuffers() to return early if the folio has no buffers attached, with WARNONONCE() to alert about the misconfiguration. This provides defensive hardening.

Affected Software

149 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<6.8.0-1060.63~22.04.1

6.8.0-1060.63~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8<6.8.0-1063.71~22.04.1

6.8.0-1063.71~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8<6.8.0-1062.69~22.04.1

6.8.0-1062.69~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8<6.8.0-1063.69~22.04.1

6.8.0-1063.69~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.8<6.8.0-136.136~22.04.1

6.8.0-136.136~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8<6.8.0-1060.61~22.04.1

6.8.0-1060.61~22.04.1

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<6.8.0-134.134.1~22.04.1

6.8.0-134.134.1~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8<6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1

6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1

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<6.8.0-1057.58~22.04.1

6.8.0-1057.58~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8<6.8.0-134.134~22.04.1

6.8.0-134.134~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8<6.8.1-1055.56~22.04.1

6.8.1-1055.56~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux<6.8.0-134.134

6.8.0-134.134

ubuntu/linux-aws<6.8.0-1060.63

6.8.0-1060.63

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-azure<6.8.0-1063.71

6.8.0-1063.71

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<6.8.0-1062.69

6.8.0-1062.69

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia<6.8.0-1039.42

6.8.0-1039.42

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gcp<6.8.0-1063.69

6.8.0-1063.69

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gke<6.8.0-1058.64

6.8.0-1058.64

ubuntu/linux-gkeop<6.8.0-1045.48

6.8.0-1045.48

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-ibm<6.8.0-1060.61

6.8.0-1060.61

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<6.8.0-134.134.1

6.8.0-134.134.1

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia<6.8.0-1058.61

6.8.0-1058.61

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency<6.8.0-1058.61.1

6.8.0-1058.61.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra<6.8.0-1029.30

6.8.0-1029.30

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-oracle<6.8.0-1057.58

6.8.0-1057.58

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-raspi<6.8.0-1060.64

6.8.0-1060.64

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-xilinx<6.8.0-1032.33

6.8.0-1032.33

ubuntu/linux-bluefield<6.8.0-1026.30

6.8.0-1026.30

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime<6.8.0-2049.50

6.8.0-2049.50

ubuntu/linux-realtime<6.8.1-1055.56

6.8.1-1055.56

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<6.8.0-1060.63+fips1

6.8.0-1060.63+fips1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<6.8.0-1062.69+fips1

6.8.0-1062.69+fips1

ubuntu/linux-fips<6.8.0-134.134+fips1

6.8.0-134.134+fips1

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<6.8.0-1063.69+fips1

6.8.0-1063.69+fips1

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

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 6.8.0-1060.63~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.71~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1062.69~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.69~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1060.61~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-134.134.1~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1057.58~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-134.134~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.1-1055.56~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-134.134
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1060.63
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.71
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1062.69
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1039.42
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.69
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1058.64
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1045.48
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1060.61
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-134.134.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1058.61
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1058.61.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1029.30
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1057.58
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1060.64
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-xilinx to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1032.33
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1026.30
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-2049.50
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.1-1055.56
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1060.63+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1062.69+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-134.134+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.69+fips1

Event History

May 6, 2026

CVE Published

via OSV·12:16 PM

Data Sourced

via OSV·12:16 PM

DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

What conditions are required to trigger this issue?

A folio must belong to a mapping with AS_RELEASE_ALWAYS set while no release_folio operation is defined, and the folio must have no attached buffers. When filemap_release_folio() invokes try_to_free_buffers() under those conditions, the kernel can dereference a null buffer pointer.

What is the practical impact if the issue is triggered?

The null pointer dereference can cause a kernel crash or denial of service. The supplied severity vector indicates local access, low attack complexity, and low privileges are required, with availability as the affected security impact.

Which Ubuntu kernel packages are listed as affected?

The listed packages are ubuntu/linux-riscv, ubuntu/linux-realtime, ubuntu/linux-azure, ubuntu/linux-gcp, ubuntu/linux-azure-fde, ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge, ubuntu/linux-gke, and ubuntu/linux-gkeop.

What does the resolution change?

The fix makes try_to_free_buffers() return early when a folio has no attached buffers. It also emits a WARN_ON_ONCE() alert to identify the underlying mapping misconfiguration.

UBUNTU-CVE-2025-71295: Null Pointer Dereference

Affected Software

Remediation

Event History

Frequently Asked Questions

What conditions are required to trigger this issue?

What is the practical impact if the issue is triggered?

Which Ubuntu kernel packages are listed as affected?

What does the resolution change?

Company

Resources

Contact

Frequently Asked Questions

What conditions are required to trigger this issue?

What is the practical impact if the issue is triggered?

Which Ubuntu kernel packages are listed as affected?

What does the resolution change?