CVE-2025-40013

Kernel crash via unchecked NULL module result

Published Oct 20, 2025 · Updated Oct 20, 2025

A NULL-pointer dereference in affected Linux kernels beginning with 5.16 allows attackers to crash the kernel during AudioReach topology parsing. The audioreach_widget_load_module_common() function accepts a NULL result from audioreach_parse_common_tokens() because it checks only error pointers, then dereferences the returned module pointer. Triggering requires the Qualcomm AudioReach ASoC topology path; public Linux records do not specify how attackers can supply the topology data or what privileges are required.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A NULL-pointer dereference in affected Linux kernels beginning with 5.16 allows attackers to crash the kernel during AudioReach topology parsing. The audioreach_widget_load_module_common() function accepts a NULL result from audioreach_parse_common_tokens() because it checks only error pointers, then dereferences the returned module pointer. Triggering requires the Qualcomm AudioReach ASoC topology path; public Linux records do not specify how attackers can supply the topology data or what privileges are required.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-40013
Published
Oct 20, 2025
Updated
Oct 20, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
Unavailable
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 20, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 20, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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  1. Affected versionversion=36ad9bf1d93d66b901342eab9f8ed6c1537655a6 <4dda55d04caac3b4102c26e29b1c27fa35636be3
  2. Affected versionversion=36ad9bf1d93d66b901342eab9f8ed6c1537655a6 <70e1e5fe9f7e05ff831b56ebc02543e7811b8e18
  3. Affected versionversion=36ad9bf1d93d66b901342eab9f8ed6c1537655a6 <8318e04ab2526b155773313b66a1542476ce1106
  4. Affected versionversion=36ad9bf1d93d66b901342eab9f8ed6c1537655a6 <8f9c9fafc0e7a73bbff58954d171c016ddee1734
  5. Affected versionversion=36ad9bf1d93d66b901342eab9f8ed6c1537655a6 <9c1ad4192f3d2fc85339718a6252cb3337848f7b
  6. Affected versionversion=36ad9bf1d93d66b901342eab9f8ed6c1537655a6 <ef08ce6304d30b5778035d07b04514cb70839983
  7. Affected versionversion=5.16

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorUnavailable in this record.
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=36ad9bf1d93d66b901342eab9f8ed6c1537655a6 <4dda55d04caac3b4102c26e29b1c27fa35636be3; version=36ad9bf1d93d66b901342eab9f8ed6c1537655a6 <70e1e5fe9f7e05ff831b56ebc02543e7811b8e18; version=36ad9bf1d93d66b901342eab9f8ed6c1537655a6 <8318e04ab2526b155773313b66a1542476ce1106; version=36ad9bf1d93d66b901342eab9f8ed6c1537655a6 <8f9c9fafc0e7a73bbff58954d171c016ddee1734; version=36ad9bf1d93d66b901342eab9f8ed6c1537655a6 <9c1ad4192f3d2fc85339718a6252cb3337848f7b; version=36ad9bf1d93d66b901342eab9f8ed6c1537655a6 <ef08ce6304d30b5778035d07b04514cb70839983; version=5.16

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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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)
VectorUnavailable
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

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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