CVE-2025-38689

x86/fpu: Fix NULL dereference in avx512_status()

MEDIUM
5.5
CVSS Score
Published: September 4, 2025 at 03:32 PM UTC
Updated: October 19, 2026 at 09:10 PM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

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Severity
MEDIUM5.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.1%

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: x86/fpu: Fix NULL dereference in avx512_status() Problem ------- With CONFIG_X86_DEBUG_FPU enabled, reading /proc/[kthread]/arch_status causes a warning and a NULL pointer dereference. This is because the AVX-512 timestamp code uses x86_task_fpu() but doesn't check it for NULL. CONFIG_X86_DEBUG_FPU addles that function for kernel threads (PF_KTHREAD specifically), making it return NULL. The point of the warning was to ensure that kernel threads only access task->fpu after going through kernel_fpu_begin()/_end(). Note: all kernel tasks exposed in /proc have a valid task->fpu. Solution -------- One option is to silence the warning and check for NULL from x86_task_fpu(). However, that warning is fairly fresh and seems like a defense against misuse of the FPU state in kernel threads. Instead, stop outputting AVX-512_elapsed_ms for kernel threads altogether. The data was garbage anyway because avx512_timestamp is only updated for user threads, not kernel threads. If anyone ever wants to track kernel thread AVX-512 use, they can come back later and do it properly, separate from this bug fix. [ dhansen: mostly rewrite changelog ]

Affected

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

6.16 ≤ v < 6.16.222aafe3bcb67472effdea1ccf0df20280192bbaf6.166.176.17 rc1
Vendor states this is fixed in 2ca887e81095b99d890a8878841f36f4920181e6 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 31cd31c9e17ece125aad27259501a2af69ccb020 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.16 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.16.2 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.17 (unaffected)

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

References (2)

Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2ca887e81095b99d890a8878841f36f4920181e6
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/31cd31c9e17ece125aad27259501a2af69ccb020

CVSS

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

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
CWE-476

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