CVE-2025-38489 s390/bpf: Fix bpf_arch_text_poke() with new_addr == NULL again
A null pointer dereference in the s390 BPF subsystem can cause kernel panics, leading to denial of service on affected Linux systems.
- 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-2025-38489?
CVE-2025-38489 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 28 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:
s390/bpf: Fix bpf_arch_text_poke() with new_addr == NULL again
Commit 7ded842b356d ("s390/bpf: Fix bpf_plt pointer arithmetic") has accidentally removed the critical piece of commit c730fce7c70c ("s390/bpf: Fix bpf_arch_text_poke() with new_addr == NULL"), causing intermittent kernel panics in e.g. perf's on_switch() prog to reappear.
Restore the fix and add a comment.
Weakness: CWE-476
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-38489?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2025-38489?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2025-38489 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-38489 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2025-38489, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-38489, GHSA-4qj7-qq7h-5mm9, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2404-CVE-2025-38489, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38489.