CVE-2025-38269: linux kernel Null Dereference — Fix

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: exit after state insertion failure at btrfs_convert_extent_bit() If insert_state() state failed it returns an error pointer and we call extent_io_tree_panic() which will trigger a BUG() call. However if CONFIG_BUG is disabled, which is an uncommon and exotic scenario, then we fallthrough and call cache_state() which will dereference the error pointer, resulting in an invalid memory access. So jump to the 'out' label after calling extent_io_tree_panic(), it also makes the code more clear besides dealing with the exotic scenario where CONFIG_BUG is disabled.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

5.5

MEDIUM

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-476 CWE-476

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
linux	linux_kernel	< 6.12.34
linux	linux_kernel	6.13 — 6.15.3

References

Advisories & Patches

https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3bf179e36da917c5d9bec71c714573ed1649b7c1 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/58c50f45e1821a04d61b62514f9bd34afe67c622 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8d9d32088e304e2bc444a3087cab0bbbd9951866

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-38269? +

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: exit after state insertion failure at btrfs_convert_extent_bit() If insert_state() state failed it returns an error pointer and we call extent_io_tree_panic() which will trigger a BUG() call. However if CONFIG_BUG is disabled, which is an uncommon and exotic scenario, then we fallthrough and call cache_state() which will dereference the error pointer, resulting in an invalid memory access. So jump to the 'out' label after calling extent_io_tree_panic(), it also makes the code more clear besides dealing with the exotic scenario where CONFIG_BUG is disabled. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.5 (MEDIUM).

How severe is CVE-2025-38269? +

CVE-2025-38269 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 5.5 out of 10, rated MEDIUM. This is a medium-severity vulnerability that should be remediated as part of regular maintenance.

What products are affected by CVE-2025-38269? +

CVE-2025-38269 affects products from linux, specifically: linux_kernel. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2025-38269? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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