CVE-2025-38243: Linux kernel · btrfs: fix invalid inode pointer dereferences during log replay
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium.
Data as of 15 Nov 2026, 01:59 UTC
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 9 Jul 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: 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 14 Nov 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-gcp-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-hwe-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-raspi-realtimepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-realtimepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-realtime?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 fix has been implemented to prevent invalid inode pointer dereferences during log replay in the btrfs filesystem. Users should apply the updated linux-hwe-edge kernel versions that contain this fix. Since the vulnerability is patched, no additional mitigations are required.
Description
CVE-2025-38243 is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's btrfs filesystem where invalid inode pointer dereferences occur during log replay. This flaw can lead to invalid memory access and cause a system crash. The issue arises when read_one_inode() returns a NULL pointer, but subsequent code incorrectly dereferences it. The vulnerability affects specific versions of the linux-hwe-edge kernel and has a medium severity rating with a CVSS score of 5.5.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-38243 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-38243 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/2dcf838cf5c2f0f4501edaa1680fcad03618d760 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2dcf838cf5c2f0f4501edaa1680fcad03618d760 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/401d098f92ea69d8a75f8b845daf343e511681ba (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ba8386d662cc51cc5382688bbf7a152b0b0b27cf (opens in a new tab)