CVE-2025-38265
Description
From CVE.org
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: serial: jsm: fix NPE during jsm_uart_port_init No device was set which caused serial_base_ctrl_add to crash. BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000050 Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP NOPTI CPU: 16 UID: 0 PID: 368 Comm: (udev-worker) Not tainted 6.12.25-amd64 #1 Debian 6.12.25-1 RIP: 0010:serial_base_ctrl_add+0x96/0x120 Call Trace: <TASK> serial_core_register_port+0x1a0/0x580 ? __setup_irq+0x39c/0x660 ? __kmalloc_cache_noprof+0x111/0x310 jsm_uart_port_init+0xe8/0x180 [jsm] jsm_probe_one+0x1f4/0x410 [jsm] local_pci_probe+0x42/0x90 pci_device_probe+0x22f/0x270 really_probe+0xdb/0x340 ? pm_runtime_barrier+0x54/0x90 ? __pfx___driver_attach+0x10/0x10 __driver_probe_device+0x78/0x110 driver_probe_device+0x1f/0xa0 __driver_attach+0xba/0x1c0 bus_for_each_dev+0x8c/0xe0 bus_add_driver+0x112/0x1f0 driver_register+0x72/0xd0 jsm_init_module+0x36/0xff0 [jsm] ? __pfx_jsm_init_module+0x10/0x10 [jsm] do_one_initcall+0x58/0x310 do_init_module+0x60/0x230 Tested with Digi Neo PCIe 8 port card.
Statement
A null pointer dereference was discovered in the jsm_uart_port_init() function of the jsm serial driver due to a missing initialization of the uart_port.dev field. This issue triggers a kernel crash when the driver attempts to register the serial port via serial_base_ctrl_add(). Exploitation requires the ability to load and initialize a kernel module (e.g., via modprobe or insmod), which is restricted to privileged users. As such, only a local user with administrative rights (CAP_SYS_MODULE or equivalent) can trigger the vulnerable code path, justifying PR:H.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 4.1 | 5.5 | N/A |
| Attack Vector | Local | Local | N/A |
| Attack Complexity | High | Low | N/A |
| Privileges Required | High | Low | N/A |
| User Interaction | None | None | N/A |
| Scope | Unchanged | Unchanged | N/A |
| Confidentiality | None | None | N/A |
| Integrity Impact | None | None | N/A |
| Availability Impact | High | High | N/A |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
NULL pointer dereferences usually result in the failure of the process unless exception handling (on some platforms) is available and implemented. Even when exception handling is being used, it can still be very difficult to return the software to a safe state of operation.
Integrity,Confidentiality
Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands; Read Memory; Modify Memory
In rare circumstances, when NULL is equivalent to the 0x0 memory address and privileged code can access it, then writing or reading memory is possible, which may lead to code execution.
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