Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: perf/x86/intel: Fix segfault...
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
perf/x86/intel: Fix segfault with PEBS-via-PT with sample_freq
Currently, using PEBS-via-PT with a sample frequency instead of a sample
period, causes a segfault. For example:
BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000195
<NMI>
? __die_body.cold+0x19/0x27
? page_fault_oops+0xca/0x290
? exc_page_fault+0x7e/0x1b0
? asm_exc_page_fault+0x26/0x30
? intel_pmu_pebs_event_update_no_drain+0x40/0x60
? intel_pmu_pebs_event_update_no_drain+0x32/0x60
intel_pmu_drain_pebs_icl+0x333/0x350
handle_pmi_common+0x272/0x3c0
intel_pmu_handle_irq+0x10a/0x2e0
perf_event_nmi_handler+0x2a/0x50
That happens because intel_pmu_pebs_event_update_no_drain() assumes all the
pebs_enabled bits represent counter indexes, which is not always the case.
In this particular case, bits 60 and 61 are set for PEBS-via-PT purposes.
The behaviour of PEBS-via-PT with sample frequency is questionable because
although a PMI is generated (PEBS_PMI_AFTER_EACH_RECORD), the period is not
adjusted anyway.
Putting that aside, fix intel_pmu_pebs_event_update_no_drain() by passing
the mask of counter bits instead of 'size'. Note, prior to the Fixes
commit, 'size' would be limited to the maximum counter index, so the issue
was not hit.
Impact
The application dereferences a null pointer, causing a crash. Typical impact: denial of service via crash.
CVE-2025-38055 has a CVSS score of 5.5 (Medium). The vector is requires local access, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. No fixed version is listed yet, so configuration controls and monitoring matter more in the interim.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2025-38055? CVE-2025-38055 is a medium-severity null pointer dereference vulnerability. No fixed version is listed yet. The application dereferences a null pointer, causing a crash.
- How severe is CVE-2025-38055? CVE-2025-38055 has a CVSS score of 5.5 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2025-38055? No fixed version is listed for CVE-2025-38055 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
- Is CVE-2025-38055 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2025-38055 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2025-38055 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.