CVE-2025-38659

Kernel crash via self-recovery journal dereference

Published Aug 22, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

NULL pointer dereference in affected Linux GFS2 kernels allows local users to crash the kernel during single-node filesystem withdrawal. During withdrawal, gfs2_recover_func() attempts self-recovery and dereferences sdp->sd_jdesc->jd_inode after the journal descriptor becomes unavailable. Reachability requires a GFS2 node to withdraw while it is the only node with the filesystem mounted; the resulting dereference interrupts the host.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.17%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in affected Linux GFS2 kernels allows local users to crash the kernel during single-node filesystem withdrawal. During withdrawal, gfs2_recover_func() attempts self-recovery and dereferences sdp->sd_jdesc->jd_inode after the journal descriptor becomes unavailable. Reachability requires a GFS2 node to withdraw while it is the only node with the filesystem mounted; the resulting dereference interrupts the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38659
Published
Aug 22, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 22, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=5.7
  2. Affected versionversion=601ef0d52e9617588fcff3df26953592f2eb44ac <1a91ba12abef628b43cada87478328274d988e88
  3. Affected versionversion=601ef0d52e9617588fcff3df26953592f2eb44ac <6784367b2f3cd7b89103de35764f37f152590dbd
  4. Affected versionversion=601ef0d52e9617588fcff3df26953592f2eb44ac <69cf5699a402ee7ae1be53954dc2ae652c0a053c
  5. Affected versionversion=601ef0d52e9617588fcff3df26953592f2eb44ac <6ebe17b359bead383581f729e43f591c1c36e159
  6. Affected versionversion=601ef0d52e9617588fcff3df26953592f2eb44ac <97c94c7dbddc34d353c83b541b3decabf98d04af
  7. Affected versionversion=601ef0d52e9617588fcff3df26953592f2eb44ac <deb016c1669002e48c431d6fd32ea1c20ef41756
  8. Affected versionversion=601ef0d52e9617588fcff3df26953592f2eb44ac <f5426ffbec971a8f7346a57392d3a901bdee5a9b

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.7; version=601ef0d52e9617588fcff3df26953592f2eb44ac <1a91ba12abef628b43cada87478328274d988e88; version=601ef0d52e9617588fcff3df26953592f2eb44ac <6784367b2f3cd7b89103de35764f37f152590dbd; version=601ef0d52e9617588fcff3df26953592f2eb44ac <69cf5699a402ee7ae1be53954dc2ae652c0a053c; version=601ef0d52e9617588fcff3df26953592f2eb44ac <6ebe17b359bead383581f729e43f591c1c36e159; version=601ef0d52e9617588fcff3df26953592f2eb44ac <97c94c7dbddc34d353c83b541b3decabf98d04af; version=601ef0d52e9617588fcff3df26953592f2eb44ac <deb016c1669002e48c431d6fd32ea1c20ef41756; version=601ef0d52e9617588fcff3df26953592f2eb44ac <f5426ffbec971a8f7346a57392d3a901bdee5a9b

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux kernel CVE teamCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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