CVE-2025-38716: Linux kernel · hfs: fix general protection fault in hfs_find_init()
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, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 3% 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 +27
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 Sep 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 for this vulnerability. Users should update their Linux kernel to a fixed version to prevent the general protection fault caused by the NULL pointer dereference in hfs_find_init(). No additional mitigation is required once the patch is applied.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's HFS filesystem driver was fixed to prevent a general protection fault caused by a NULL tree pointer in the hfs_find_init() function. This flaw could cause a system crash (kernel panic) when the function is called with a NULL pointer. The issue affects specific Linux kernel versions and has been assigned CVE-2025-38716. The vulnerability has a medium severity with a CVSS score of 5.5 and impacts system availability due to potential crashes. A patch is available to address this issue.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-38716 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-38716 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/736a0516a16268995f4898eded49bfef077af709 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4f032979b63ad52e08aadf0faeac34ed35133ec0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5d8b249527362e0ccafcaf76b3bec2a0d2aa1498 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6e20e10064fdc43231636fca519c15c013a8e3d6 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/736a0516a16268995f4898eded49bfef077af709 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b918c17a1934ac6309b0083f41d4e9d8fb3bb46c (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)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-8 (opens in a new tab)