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
- Linux — versions e532a096be0e5e570b383e71d4560e7f04384e0f, 5.14, 0
- Linux Linux_kernel — versions 6.17
- Debian Debian_linux — versions 11.0
Weakness classification (CWE)
Public proof-of-concept exploits
References
- 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 (Patch)
- 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 (Patch)
- 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 (Patch)
- 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 (Patch)
- 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 (Patch)
- 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 (Patch)
- 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 (Patch)
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108 (Mailing List, Third Party Advisory)
- 0b142b55-0307-4c5a-b3c9-f314f3fb7c5e
- 0b142b55-0307-4c5a-b3c9-f314f3fb7c5e
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.