Linux: NULL Pointer Dereference
CVE-2025-68782 is a high-severity NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in Linux, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 6cac97b12bdab04832e0416d049efcd0d48d303b, 45fd86b444105c8bd07a763f58635c87e5dc7aea, 8727663ded659aad55eef21e3864ebf5a4796a96 as the first without the flaw, so updating Linux to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.69% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 53% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Linux to 6cac97b12bdab04832e0416d049efcd0d48d303b or 45fd86b444105c8bd07a763f58635c87e5dc7aea or 8727663ded659aad55eef21e3864ebf5a4796a96 or 0260ad551b0815eb788d47f32899fbcd65d6f128, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 9e95fb805dc043cc8ed878a08d1583e4097a5f80 up to, but not including, 6cac97b12bdab04832e0416d049efcd0d48d303b; 9e95fb805dc043cc8ed878a08d1583e4097a5f80 up to, but not including, 45fd86b444105c8bd07a763f58635c87e5dc7aea; 9e95fb805dc043cc8ed878a08d1583e4097a5f80 up to, but not including, 8727663ded659aad55eef21e3864ebf5a4796a96; 9e95fb805dc043cc8ed878a08d1583e4097a5f80 up to, but not including, 0260ad551b0815eb788d47f32899fbcd65d6f128; 9e95fb805dc043cc8ed878a08d1583e4097a5f80 up to, but not including, 0d36db68fdb8a3325386fd9523b67735f944e1f3; 9e95fb805dc043cc8ed878a08d1583e4097a5f80 up to, but not including, 8edbb9e371af186b4cf40819dab65fafe109df4d; 9e95fb805dc043cc8ed878a08d1583e4097a5f80 up to, but not including, 5053eab38a4c4543522d0c320c639c56a8b59908; 5.8 | 6cac97b12bdab04832e0416d049efcd0d48d303b, 45fd86b444105c8bd07a763f58635c87e5dc7aea, 8727663ded659aad55eef21e3864ebf5a4796a96, 0260ad551b0815eb788d47f32899fbcd65d6f128, 0d36db68fdb8a3325386fd9523b67735f944e1f3, 8edbb9e371af186b4cf40819dab65fafe109df4d |
| Siemens | SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP (6ES7518-4AX00-1AB0) | V3.1.6 and later; V3.1.7 and later | Not stated |
| Siemens | SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP (6ES7518-4AX00-1AC0) | V3.1.6 and later; V3.1.7 and later | Not stated |
| Siemens | SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFP (6ES7518-4FX00-1AB0) | V3.1.6 and later; V3.1.7 and later | Not stated |
| Siemens | SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFP (6ES7518-4FX00-1AC0) | V3.1.6 and later; V3.1.7 and later | Not stated |
| Siemens | SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP (6AG1518-4AX00-4AC0) | V3.1.6 and later; V3.1.7 and later | Not 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
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by CNA.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: scsi: target: Reset t_task_cdb pointer in error case If allocation of cmd->t_task_cdb fails, it remains NULL but is later dereferenced in the 'err' path. In case of error, reset NULL t_task_cdb value to point at the default fixed-size buffer. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with SVACE.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: NULL Pointer Dereference
The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- For any pointers that could have been modified or provided from a function that can return NULL, check the pointer for NULL before use. When working with a multithreaded or otherwise asynchronous environment, ensure that proper locking APIs are used to lock before the check, and unlock when it has finished.
- Select a programming language that is not susceptible to these issues.
- Check the results of all functions that return a value and verify that the value is non-null before acting upon it.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0260ad551b0815eb788d47f32899fbcd65d6f128
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0d36db68fdb8a3325386fd9523b67735f944e1f3
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/45fd86b444105c8bd07a763f58635c87e5dc7aea
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5053eab38a4c4543522d0c320c639c56a8b59908
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6cac97b12bdab04832e0416d049efcd0d48d303b
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8727663ded659aad55eef21e3864ebf5a4796a96
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8edbb9e371af186b4cf40819dab65fafe109df4d
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-019113.html
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-457936.html
Recent NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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