pinmux: fix race causing mux_owner NULL with active mux_usecount
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-476.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: pinmux: fix race causing mux_owner NULL with active mux_usecount commit 5a3e85c3c397 ("pinmux: Use sequential access to access desc->pinmux data") tried to address the issue when two client of the same gpio calls pinctrl_select_state() for the same functionality, was resulting in NULL pointer issue while accessing desc->mux_owner. However, issue was not completely fixed due to the way it was handled and it can still result in the same NULL pointer. The issue occurs due to the following interleaving: cpu0 (process A) cpu1 (process B) pin_request() { pin_free() { mutex_lock() desc->mux_usecount--; //becomes 0 .. mutex_unlock() mutex_lock(desc->mux) desc->mux_usecount++; // becomes 1 desc->mux_owner = owner; mutex_unlock(desc->mux) mutex_lock(desc->mux) desc->mux_owner = NULL; mutex_unlock(desc->mux) This sequence leads to a state where the pin appears to be in use (`mux_usecount == 1`) but has no owner (`mux_owner == NULL`), which can cause NULL pointer on next pin_request on the same pin. Ensure that updates to mux_usecount and mux_owner are performed atomically under the same lock. Only clear mux_owner when mux_usecount reaches zero and no new owner has been assigned.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 6.6.66 to before 6.6.102; 6.12.5 to before 6.12.42 | 6.6.102, 6.12.42 | Patch available | CNA |
| Linux | Linux | 6.13 and later | 6.6.102, 6.12.42, 6.15.10, 6.16.1, 6.17 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 6.6.66 to before 6.6.102; 6.12.5 to before 6.12.42 Fixed in 6.6.102, 6.12.42 Patch available CNA
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 6.13 and later Fixed in 6.6.102, 6.12.42, 6.15.10, 6.16.1, 6.17 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.6.66 to before 6.6.102; 6.12.5 to before 6.12.42; 6.13 to before 6.15.10; 6.16 to before 6.16.1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.6.66 to before 6.6.102; 6.12.5 to before 6.12.42; 6.13 to before 6.15.10; 6.16 to before 6.16.1 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.6.102, 6.12.42
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.6.102, 6.12.42, 6.15.10, 6.16.1, 6.17
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-38632
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-rpg5-5rc2-v629
- 2026-10-30 Fix available: Linux/Linux@8434dec94e73cad527341d6280895191d949a702 · CNA
- 2026-10-30 1 new reference · CNA
- 2026-11-05 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
Patch 5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9b2a3e7189028aa7c4d53a84364f2ea9fb209787
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9ea3f6b9a67be3476e331ce51cac316c2614a564
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b7bd6e3971eb7f0e34d2fdce1b18b08094e0c804
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/22b585cbd67d14df3b91529d1b990661c300faa9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0b075c011032f88d1cfde3b45d6dcf08b44140eb
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Sources
- CVE-2025-38632 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-38632 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-rpg5-5rc2-v629 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-38632 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences