NULL pointer dereference in Linux

CVE-2025-38725

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: usb: asix_devices: add phy_mask for ax88772 mdio bus Without setting phy_mask for ax88772 mdio bus, current driver may create at most 32 mdio phy devices with phy address range from 0x00 ~ 0x1f. DLink DUB-E100 H/W Ver B1 is such a device. However, only one main phy device will bind to net phy driver. This is creating issue during system suspend/resume since phy_polling_mode() in phy_state_machine() will directly deference member of phydev->drv for non-main phy devices. Then NULL pointer dereference issue will occur. Due to only external phy or internal phy is necessary, add phy_mask for ax88772 mdio bus to workarnoud the issue.

EPSS: 0.001 (4.1th percentile) — read the EPSS interpretation.

CVSS v3 metric

CVSS v3 base score 5.5 (Medium). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.

Affected products

Weakness classification (CWE)

Public proof-of-concept exploits

References

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2025-38725?
CVE-2025-38725 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux, classified under NULL Pointer Dereference. CVSS score: 5.5/10. Published 2025-09-04.
How severe is CVE-2025-38725?
Medium severity. CVSS v3 base score is 5.5 out of 10.
Is CVE-2025-38725 known to be exploited?
1 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.