CVE-2025-38277 mtd: nand: ecc-mxic: Fix use of uninitialized variable ret
An uninitialized variable in the Linux kernel NAND ECC driver can cause kernel crashes or unpredictable behavior when specific edge cases occur.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2025-38277?
CVE-2025-38277 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 10 Jul 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
mtd: nand: ecc-mxic: Fix use of uninitialized variable ret
If ctx->steps is zero, the loop processing ECC steps is skipped, and the variable ret remains uninitialized. It is later checked and returned, which leads to undefined behavior and may cause unpredictable results in user space or kernel crashes.
This scenario can be triggered in edge cases such as misconfigured geometry, ECC engine misuse, or if ctx->steps is not validated after initialization.
Initialize ret to zero before the loop to ensure correct and safe behavior regardless of the ctx->steps value.
Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with SVACE.
Weakness: CWE-908
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-38277?
It affects 2 products.
Products include Debian Debian Linux, Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2025-38277?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2025-38277 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-38277 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux
Sources
Also known as AZL-64973, BELL-CVE-2025-38277, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-38277, GHSA-2q6w-3xvm-pchp, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2025-38277, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2404-CVE-2025-38277 and 1 more.