CVE-2025-38305

ptp: remove ptp->n_vclocks check logic in ptp_vclock_in_use()

MEDIUM
5.5
CVSS Score
Published: July 10, 2025 at 07:42 AM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 09:16 AM UTC
2 products affected across 2 vendorsLinux KernelDebian Linux

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Severity
MEDIUM5.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ptp: remove ptp->n_vclocks check logic in ptp_vclock_in_use() There is no disagreement that we should check both ptp->is_virtual_clock and ptp->n_vclocks to check if the ptp virtual clock is in use. However, when we acquire ptp->n_vclocks_mux to read ptp->n_vclocks in ptp_vclock_in_use(), we observe a recursive lock in the call trace starting from n_vclocks_store(). ============================================ WARNING: possible recursive locking detected 6.15.0-rc6 #1 Not tainted -------------------------------------------- syz.0.1540/13807 is trying to acquire lock: ffff888035a24868 (&ptp->n_vclocks_mux){+.+.}-{4:4}, at: ptp_vclock_in_use drivers/ptp/ptp_private.h:103 [inline] ffff888035a24868 (&ptp->n_vclocks_mux){+.+.}-{4:4}, at: ptp_clock_unregister+0x21/0x250 drivers/ptp/ptp_clock.c:415 but task is already holding lock: ffff888030704868 (&ptp->n_vclocks_mux){+.+.}-{4:4}, at: n_vclocks_store+0xf1/0x6d0 drivers/ptp/ptp_sysfs.c:215 other info that might help us debug this: Possible unsafe locking scenario: CPU0 ---- lock(&ptp->n_vclocks_mux); lock(&ptp->n_vclocks_mux); *** DEADLOCK *** .... ============================================ The best way to solve this is to remove the logic that checks ptp->n_vclocks in ptp_vclock_in_use(). The reason why this is appropriate is that any path that uses ptp->n_vclocks must unconditionally check if ptp->n_vclocks is greater than 0 before unregistering vclocks, and all functions are already written this way. And in the function that uses ptp->n_vclocks, we already get ptp->n_vclocks_mux before unregistering vclocks. Therefore, we need to remove the redundant check for ptp->n_vclocks in ptp_vclock_in_use() to prevent recursive locking.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

5.14 ≤ v < 5.15.1865.14 ≤ v < 6.1.1425.14 ≤ v < 6.12.345.14 ≤ v < 6.15.35.14 ≤ v < 6.165.14 ≤ v < 6.6.945.14.1 ≤ v < 5.15.1865.16 ≤ v < 6.1.1426.13 ≤ v < 6.15.36.2 ≤ v < 6.6.946.7 ≤ v < 6.12.345.145.14 rc25.14 rc35.14 rc45.14 rc55.14 rc65.14 rc76.16 rc173f37068d540eba5f93ba3a0019bf479d35ebd76
Vendor states this is fixed in 259119595227fd20f6aa29d85abe086b6fdd9eb1 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5d217e7031a5c06d366580fc6ddbf43527b780d4 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 87f7ce260a3c838b49e1dc1ceedf1006795157a2 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in b1b73c452331451020be3bf4b014901015ae6663 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in b93e6fef4eda48e17d9c642b9abad98a066fd4a3 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in ef8fc007c28a30a4c0d90bf755e0f343d99bb392 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.14 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.15.186 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.1.142 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.12.34 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.15.3 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.16 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.6.94 (unaffected)

References (7)

Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/259119595227fd20f6aa29d85abe086b6fdd9eb1
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5d217e7031a5c06d366580fc6ddbf43527b780d4
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/87f7ce260a3c838b49e1dc1ceedf1006795157a2
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b1b73c452331451020be3bf4b014901015ae6663
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b93e6fef4eda48e17d9c642b9abad98a066fd4a3
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ef8fc007c28a30a4c0d90bf755e0f343d99bb392
Third Party Advisory
Source: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/10/msg00008.html

CVSS

Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
NONE
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
NVD-CWE-noinfo

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