Kernel panic via unchecked allocation result
Published Dec 16, 2025 · Updated Dec 16, 2025
NULL pointer dereference in Linux PCI/AER 6.16 through 6.17.7 allows attackers to cause a kernel panic via unspecified vectors. The pci_aer_init path stores kzalloc's result in dev->aer_info and dereferences that pointer without first checking for NULL. The public record does not establish attacker control over the required allocation failure; the bounded consequence is host availability loss.
Summary
What happened
NULL pointer dereference in Linux PCI/AER 6.16 through 6.17.7 allows attackers to cause a kernel panic via unspecified vectors. The pci_aer_init path stores kzalloc's result in dev->aer_info and dereferences that pointer without first checking for NULL. The public record does not establish attacker control over the required allocation failure; the bounded consequence is host availability loss.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-68309
- Published
- Dec 16, 2025
- Updated
- Dec 16, 2025
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499
- Attack vector
- Unavailable
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 16, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Dec 16, 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?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0a27bdb14b028fed30a10cec2f945c38cb5ca4fa
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <6618243bcc3f60825f761a41ed65fef9fe97eb25
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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