CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2025-58142NVD status: Modified

Xen: Use of NullPointerException Catch to Detect NULL Pointer Dereference

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2025-58142 is a critical-severity use of nullpointerexception catch to detect NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in Xen, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.51% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Check which version of Xen you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Read the advisory on xenbits.xenproject.org for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  3. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
XenXenNot specified in the recordNot stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CISA (ADP).

Official description

[This CNA information record relates to multiple CVEs; the text explains which aspects/vulnerabilities correspond to which CVE.] There are multiple issues related to the handling and accessing of guest memory pages in the viridian code: 1. A NULL pointer dereference in the updating of the reference TSC area. This is CVE-2025-27466. 2. A NULL pointer dereference by assuming the SIM page is mapped when a synthetic timer message has to be delivered. This is CVE-2025-58142. 3. A race in the mapping of the reference TSC page, where a guest can get Xen to free a page while still present in the guest physical to machine (p2m) page tables. This is CVE-2025-58143.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Use of NullPointerException Catch to Detect NULL Pointer Dereference

Catching NullPointerException should not be used as an alternative to programmatic checks to prevent dereferencing a null pointer.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Do not extensively rely on catching exceptions (especially for validating user input) to handle errors. Handling exceptions can decrease the performance of an application.

More Use of NullPointerException Catch to Detect NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerabilities (CWE-395)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in Xen

All Xen vulnerabilities

Recent Use of NullPointerException Catch to Detect NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerabilities

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