CVE-2025-38215: Linux kernel · fbdev: Fix do_register_framebuffer to prevent null-ptr-deref in fb_videomode_to_var
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 6.8.0-1046.49~22.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 16:39 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 6% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 6.8.0-1046.49~22.04.1, 6.8.0-1051.57~22.04.1, 6.8.0-1046.53~22.04.1 +33
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 4 Jul 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-aws-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A patch is available and should be applied to affected Linux kernel versions to prevent this null pointer dereference and kernel panic. The fix prevents registering framebuffer info when the mode is not set successfully and improves error handling in framebuffer registration. Users should update their kernels to versions including this fix. No additional mitigation is required beyond applying the official patch.
Description
A null pointer dereference vulnerability in the Linux kernel framebuffer device (fbdev) subsystem was fixed. The issue occurs when fb_add_videomode() fails to allocate memory during framebuffer registration, leading to a null pointer dereference in fb_videomode_to_var(). This can cause a kernel panic. The fix prevents registering fb_info if its mode is not set successfully and moves the videomode addition earlier in the registration process to avoid cleanup issues on failure. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 5.5 (medium severity) and affects specific Linux kernel versions. A patch is available.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-38215 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-38215 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/17186f1f90d34fa701e4f14e6818305151637b9e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0909b2b49c4546a7a08c80f53d93736b63270827 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/17186f1f90d34fa701e4f14e6818305151637b9e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3f2098f4fba7718eb2501207ca6e99d22427f25a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/908c5bb64f9c4319902b8ca1aa3fef8f83302520 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d803c4c2a4ac8ce2be6d899d5c7ab0bf7ec355e9 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7856-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8031-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8031-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-6 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8031-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8052-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-7 (opens in a new tab)