CVE-2025-38694 – A null pointer dereference vulnerability in the... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2025-38694?

CVE-2025-38694 has a CVSS score of 5.5 (MEDIUM). A null pointer dereference vulnerability in the Linux kernel's DVB frontend driver allows local attackers to crash the system or potentially execute arbitrary code. This affects systems using the dib7090p driver for digital video broadcasting. Attackers need local access to exploit this vulnerability.

📋 TL;DR

A null pointer dereference vulnerability in the Linux kernel's DVB frontend driver allows local attackers to crash the system or potentially execute arbitrary code. This affects systems using the dib7090p driver for digital video broadcasting. Attackers need local access to exploit this vulnerability.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Linux kernel with dib7090p DVB frontend driver

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

Operating Systems: Linux distributions with vulnerable kernel versions

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Only affects systems with DVB hardware using the dib7090p driver; requires CONFIG_DVB_DIB7090P or similar configuration enabled.

📦 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 system crash, denial of service, or potential privilege escalation to kernel-level code execution.

🟠

Likely Case

Local denial of service through kernel panic or system crash when malicious userspace applications trigger the vulnerable code path.

🟢

If Mitigated

Limited to denial of service with proper access controls preventing unauthorized local users from accessing DVB devices.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW - Requires local access to the system; not directly exploitable over network.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Local users with access to DVB devices could cause system instability or crashes.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

Requires local access and ability to interact with DVB device nodes; similar to CVE-2023-31085 pattern.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Linux kernel commits: 09906650484a09b3a4d4b3d3065395856810becd, 0bb32863426afe0badac25c28d59021f211d0f48, 19eb5d8e6aa1169d368a4d69aae5572950deb89d, 529fd5593b721e6f4370c591f5086649ed149ff6, a0f744d6cdde81d7382e183f77a4080a39b206cd

Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/09906650484a09b3a4d4b3d3065395856810becd

Restart Required: No

Instructions:

1. Update Linux kernel to version containing the fix commits. 2. For distributions: Use package manager (apt/yum/dnf) to update kernel package. 3. Rebuild kernel if using custom kernel with affected driver.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable DVB dib7090p driver

all

Remove or blacklist the vulnerable driver module

echo 'blacklist dib7090p' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-dvb.conf
rmmod dib7090p

Restrict DVB device access

all

Change permissions on DVB device nodes to prevent unauthorized access

chmod 600 /dev/dvb/*
chown root:root /dev/dvb/*

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Restrict local user access to systems with DVB hardware
Implement strict access controls on /dev/dvb device nodes

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check if dib7090p module is loaded: lsmod | grep dib7090p AND check kernel version against patched versions

Check Version:

uname -r

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify kernel version includes fix commits or dib7090p module is not loaded/blacklisted

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Kernel panic messages
Oops messages in dmesg
System crash/reboot logs

Network Indicators:

None - local vulnerability only

SIEM Query:

source="kernel" AND ("Oops" OR "panic" OR "NULL pointer dereference") AND "dib7090p"

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2025-38694

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: September 4, 2025

Last Updated: January 22, 2026

🔗 References

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