NULL pointer dereference in Linux

CVE-2025-39947

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/mlx5e: Harden uplink netdev access against device unbind The function mlx5_uplink_netdev_get() gets the uplink netdevice pointer from mdev->mlx5e_res.uplink_netdev. However, the netdevice can be removed and its pointer cleared when unbound from the mlx5_core.eth driver. This results in a NULL pointer, causing a kernel panic. BUG: unable to handle page fault for address: 0000000000001300 at RIP: 0010:mlx5e_vport_rep_load+0x22a/0x270 [mlx5_core] Call Trace: <TASK> mlx5_esw_offloads_rep_load+0x68/0xe0 [mlx5_core] esw_offloads_enable+0x593/0x910 [mlx5_core] mlx5_eswitch_enable_locked+0x341/0x420 [mlx5_core] mlx5_devlink_eswitch_mode_set+0x17e/0x3a0 [mlx5_core] devlink_nl_eswitch_set_doit+0x60/0xd0 genl_family_rcv_msg_doit+0xe0/0x130 genl_rcv_msg+0x183/0x290 netlink_rcv_skb+0x4b/0xf0 genl_rcv+0x24/0x40 netlink_unicast+0x255/0x380 netlink_sendmsg+0x1f3/0x420 __sock_sendmsg+0x38/0x60 __sys_sendto+0x119/0x180 do_syscall_64+0x53/0x1d0 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x4b/0x53 Ensure the pointer is valid before use by checking it for NULL. If it is valid, immediately call netdev_hold() to take a reference, and preventing the netdevice from being freed while it is in use.

Published · last modified .

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.

EPSS exploit prediction

EPSS: 0.001 (3.2th percentile), scored .

Very low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days; routine patching cadence is appropriate. 3rd percentile — 3.2% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS trend (30 days)EPSS over the last 30 days for CVE-2025-39947: held from 0.001 to 0.001.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.001 · newest: 0.001 · change: +0.000

Affected products

  • Linux — versions 7a9fb35e8c3a67145fca262c304de65cb2f83abf, 5.13, 0
  • Linux Kernel — versions 6.17

Weakness classification (CWE)

Public proof-of-concept exploits

References

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2025-39947?
CVE-2025-39947 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux, classified under NULL Pointer Dereference. CVSS score: 5.5/10. Published 2025-10-04.
How severe is CVE-2025-39947?
Medium severity. CVSS v3 base score is 5.5 out of 10.
Is CVE-2025-39947 known to be exploited?
1 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.