CVE-2025-38712 hfsplus: don't use BUG_ON() in hfsplus_create_attributes_file()

What is CVE-2025-38712?

CVE-2025-38712 is a medium-severity denial of service vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 4 Sep 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:

hfsplus: don't use BUG_ON() in hfsplus_create_attributes_file()

When the volume header contains erroneous values that do not reflect the actual state of the filesystem, hfsplus_fill_super() assumes that the attributes file is not yet created, which later results in hitting BUG_ON() when hfsplus_create_attributes_file() is called. Replace this BUG_ON() with -EIO error with a message to suggest running fsck tool.

Weakness: CWE-617

Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-38712?

It affects 2 products.

Products include Debian Debian Linux, Linux kernel.

How do I fix CVE-2025-38712?

Apply the vendor's patch.

Upgrade, then put limits on request size, rate and nesting depth so one client cannot exhaust the service. More about Denial of service.

Is CVE-2025-38712 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-38712 in the wild and no public exploit code.

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• CVE-2025-39682 Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions Exploited Critical 9.8
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All Debian Debian Linux vulnerabilities

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as AZL-66866, AZL-75306, BELL-CVE-2025-38712, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-38712, GHSA-96vc-hjj8-mp82, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2025-38712 and 4 more.