Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: prevent a NULL deref in...
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net: prevent a NULL deref in rtnl_create_link()
At the time rtnl_create_link() is running, dev->netdev_ops is NULL,
we must not use netdev_lock_ops() or risk a NULL deref if
CONFIG_NET_SHAPER is defined.
Use netif_set_group() instead of dev_set_group().
RIP: 0010:netdev_need_ops_lock include/net/netdev_lock.h:33 [inline]
RIP: 0010:netdev_lock_ops include/net/netdev_lock.h:41 [inline]
RIP: 0010:dev_set_group+0xc0/0x230 net/core/dev_api.c:82
Call Trace:
rtnl_create_link+0x748/0xd10 net/core/rtnetlink.c:3674
rtnl_newlink_create+0x25c/0xb00 net/core/rtnetlink.c:3813
__rtnl_newlink net/core/rtnetlink.c:3940 [inline]
rtnl_newlink+0x16d6/0x1c70 net/core/rtnetlink.c:4055
rtnetlink_rcv_msg+0x7cf/0xb70 net/core/rtnetlink.c:6944
netlink_rcv_skb+0x208/0x470 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:2534
netlink_unicast_kernel net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1313 [inline]
netlink_unicast+0x75b/0x8d0 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1339
netlink_sendmsg+0x805/0xb30 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1883
sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:712 [inline]
Impact
The application dereferences a null pointer, causing a crash. Typical impact: denial of service via crash.
CVE-2025-38271 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-2025-38271? CVE-2025-38271 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-2025-38271? CVE-2025-38271 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-2025-38271? No fixed version is listed for CVE-2025-38271 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
- Is CVE-2025-38271 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2025-38271 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-2025-38271 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.