CVE-2025-38277: Linux kernel · mtd: nand: ecc-mxic: Fix use of uninitialized variable ret
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, 10:12 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 8% 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, 6.8.0-1047.50~22.04.2 +30
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 10 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.
Patches and advisories
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7770-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7771-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7789-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7789-2 (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)
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.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mtd: nand: ecc-mxic: Fix use of uninitialized variable ret If ctx->steps is zero, the loop processing ECC steps is skipped, and the variable ret remains uninitialized. It is later checked and returned, which leads to undefined behavior and may cause unpredictable results in user space or kernel crashes. This scenario can be triggered in edge cases such as misconfigured geometry, ECC engine misuse, or if ctx->steps is not validated after initialization. Initialize ret to zero before the loop to ensure correct and safe behavior regardless of the ctx->steps value. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with SVACE.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-38277 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-38277 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/d95846350aac72303036a70c4cdc69ae314aa26d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/49482f4a39620f6afedcd3f6aa9e0d558b6a460b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4d9d6e4be09472aa72953caca3dbefdc27846170 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7a23cc510ecaabab4f6df7e9d910d16e279b72ad (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a0d9d9b5a4634e146ae41cb25667322e5c7d74d2 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d95846350aac72303036a70c4cdc69ae314aa26d (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7770-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7771-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7789-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7789-2 (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)