Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: i2c: core: Fix double-free...
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
i2c: core: Fix double-free of fwnode in i2c_unregister_device()
Before commit df6d7277e552 ("i2c: core: Do not dereference fwnode in struct
device"), i2c_unregister_device() only called fwnode_handle_put() on
of_node-s in the form of calling of_node_put(client->dev.of_node).
But after this commit the i2c_client's fwnode now unconditionally gets
fwnode_handle_put() on it.
When the i2c_client has no primary (ACPI / OF) fwnode but it does have
a software fwnode, the software-node will be the primary node and
fwnode_handle_put() will put() it.
But for the software fwnode device_remove_software_node() will also put()
it leading to a double free:
[ 82.665598] ------------[ cut here ]------------
[ 82.665609] refcount_t: underflow; use-after-free.
[ 82.665808] WARNING: CPU: 3 PID: 1502 at lib/refcount.c:28 refcount_warn_saturate+0xba/0x11
...
[ 82.666830] RIP: 0010:refcount_warn_saturate+0xba/0x110
...
[ 82.666962]
[ 82.666971] i2c_unregister_device+0x60/0x90
Fix this by not calling fwnode_handle_put() when the primary fwnode is
a software-node.
Impact
CVE-2025-38682 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (High). 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-2025-38682? CVE-2025-38682 is a high-severity security vulnerability. No fixed version is listed yet.
- How severe is CVE-2025-38682? CVE-2025-38682 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (High). 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-2025-38682? No fixed version is listed for CVE-2025-38682 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
- Is CVE-2025-38682 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2025-38682 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-2025-38682 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.