CVE-2025-71184: Linux kernel · btrfs: fix NULL dereference on root when tracing inode eviction
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 6.8.0-1057.60~22.04.1 : 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 6.8.0-1057.60~22.04.1, 6.8.0-1059.65~22.04.1, 6.8.0-1058.65~22.04.1 +37
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 31 Jan 2026
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 25.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle?arch=source&distro=questingOther 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 has been released by Ubuntu as part of their Linux kernel security updates (USN-8278-1 and USN-8289-1). Users should update their systems to the fixed kernel versions listed in the advisories and reboot to apply the changes. Due to an ABI change, recompilation and reinstallation of third-party kernel modules may be required. No additional mitigation is necessary once the update is applied.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's Btrfs filesystem was fixed to address a NULL pointer dereference during inode eviction tracing. The issue occurs because the root pointer may be NULL when setting up tracing, which can lead to a NULL dereference. The fix involves setting the root object ID to 0 when the root is NULL to allow safe tracing. This vulnerability has a medium severity score and affects certain Linux kernel versions prior to 6.8.0-1055.56 and related versions. A patch is available and included in recent Ubuntu kernel updates.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-71184 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-71184 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/f157dd661339fc6f5f2b574fe2429c43bd309534 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/582ba48e4a4c06fef6bdcf4e57b7b9af660bbd0c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/99e057f3d3ef24b99a7b1d84e01dd1bd890098da (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f157dd661339fc6f5f2b574fe2429c43bd309534 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8278-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8289-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8296-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8296-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8289-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8278-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8393-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8440-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8499-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8570-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8594-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8604-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8605-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8570-2 (opens in a new tab)