CVE-2025-38630 – This vulnerability in the Linux kernel's imxfb ... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2025-38630?

CVE-2025-38630 has a CVSS score of 5.5 (MEDIUM). This vulnerability in the Linux kernel's imxfb framebuffer driver could allow a local attacker to cause a kernel null pointer dereference, leading to a denial of service (system crash). It affects systems using the imxfb driver for framebuffer console support, primarily on ARM-based platforms with i.MX processors. The issue occurs when memory allocation fails during framebuffer registration.

📋 TL;DR

This vulnerability in the Linux kernel's imxfb framebuffer driver could allow a local attacker to cause a kernel null pointer dereference, leading to a denial of service (system crash). It affects systems using the imxfb driver for framebuffer console support, primarily on ARM-based platforms with i.MX processors. The issue occurs when memory allocation fails during framebuffer registration.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Linux kernel with imxfb framebuffer driver

Versions: Linux kernel versions before the fix commits (specific versions vary by distribution)

Operating Systems: Linux distributions using affected kernel versions

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Only affects systems with imxfb driver loaded (typically i.MX ARM platforms). Most x86 systems are not affected.

📦 What is this software?

Debian Linux by Debian

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Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

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Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Kernel panic leading to complete system crash and denial of service, requiring physical or remote console access to reboot.

🟠

Likely Case

System instability or crash when framebuffer initialization fails due to memory pressure, affecting graphical console functionality.

🟢

If Mitigated

Minor system disruption with automatic recovery if kernel panic handling is configured, but still requiring reboot.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW - Requires local access to trigger; not exploitable remotely.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Local users or processes could trigger the crash, affecting system availability.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

Requires local access and ability to trigger memory allocation failure during framebuffer initialization. Not trivial to exploit reliably.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Kernel versions containing commits: 40f0a51f6c54d46a94b9f1180339ede7ca7ee190, 49377bac9e3bec1635065a033c9679214fe7593e, 4b5d36cc3014986e6fac12eaa8433fe56801d4ce, 69373502c2b5d364842c702c941d1171e4f35a7c, ac16154cccda8be10ee3ae188f10a06f3890bc5d

Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/40f0a51f6c54d46a94b9f1180339ede7ca7ee190

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Update Linux kernel to patched version from your distribution. 2. For custom kernels: apply the fix commits from kernel.org. 3. Reboot system to load new kernel.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable imxfb module

Linux

Prevent loading of vulnerable framebuffer driver if not needed

echo 'blacklist imxfb' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-imxfb.conf
update-initramfs -u
reboot

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Restrict local user access to prevent malicious users from triggering the condition
Monitor system memory usage to prevent allocation failures that could trigger the vulnerability

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check if imxfb module is loaded: lsmod | grep imxfb AND check kernel version against patched versions

Check Version:

uname -r

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify kernel version includes fix commits and imxfb module loads without errors in dmesg

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Kernel panic messages in /var/log/kern.log or dmesg
NULL pointer dereference errors mentioning fb_add_videomode or imxfb

Network Indicators:

None - local vulnerability only

SIEM Query:

source="kernel" AND ("NULL pointer dereference" OR "kernel panic") AND ("imxfb" OR "fb_add_videomode")

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2025-38630

CVSS v3 Score: 5.5 (MEDIUM)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CWE: CWE-476

EPSS Score: 0.01% exploit probability (2.3th percentile)

Published: August 22, 2025

Last Updated: January 7, 2026

🔗 References

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