Kernel crash via RNG null pointer dereference
Published Nov 9, 2025 · Updated Nov 9, 2025
Null-pointer dereference in the Linux kernel Crypto API allows local users to crash the system through a crafted AF_ALG socket. The rng_setentropy path calls the selected rng_alg set_ent callback without ensuring that non-DRBG algorithms such as jent_alg implement it. The trigger requires CONFIG_CRYPTO_USER_API_RNG_CAVP and an AF_ALG socket bound to such an RNG before ALG_SET_DRBG_ENTROPY is set.
Summary
What happened
Null-pointer dereference in the Linux kernel Crypto API allows local users to crash the system through a crafted AF_ALG socket. The rng_setentropy path calls the selected rng_alg set_ent callback without ensuring that non-DRBG algorithms such as jent_alg implement it. The trigger requires CONFIG_CRYPTO_USER_API_RNG_CAVP and an AF_ALG socket bound to such an RNG before ALG_SET_DRBG_ENTROPY is set.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-40109
- Published
- Nov 9, 2025
- Updated
- Nov 9, 2025
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Nov 9, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 9, 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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- Affected versionversion=5.10
- Affected versionversion=77ebdabe8de7c02f43c6de3357f79ff96f9f0579 <15d6f42da1bb527629d8e1067b1302d58dec9166
- Affected versionversion=77ebdabe8de7c02f43c6de3357f79ff96f9f0579 <17acbcd44fe8dc17dc1072375e76df2d52da6ac8
- Affected versionversion=77ebdabe8de7c02f43c6de3357f79ff96f9f0579 <915cb75983bc5e8b80f8a2f25a4af463f7b18c14
- Affected versionversion=77ebdabe8de7c02f43c6de3357f79ff96f9f0579 <ab172f4f42626549b02bada05f09e3f2b0cc26ec
- Affected versionversion=77ebdabe8de7c02f43c6de3357f79ff96f9f0579 <bd903c25b652c331831226cdf56c8179d18e43f4
- Affected versionversion=77ebdabe8de7c02f43c6de3357f79ff96f9f0579 <c0d36727bf39bb16ef0a67ed608e279535ebf0da
- Affected versionversion=77ebdabe8de7c02f43c6de3357f79ff96f9f0579 <c5c703b50e91dd4748769f4c5ab50d9ad60be370
- Affected versionversion=77ebdabe8de7c02f43c6de3357f79ff96f9f0579 <e247a7d138e514a40edda7c4d72c8bd49bb2cad3
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
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Technologies
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