CVE-2025-38632

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.
Race Condition
ProviderTypeBase ScoreAtk. VectorAtk. ComplexityPriv. RequiredVector
NISTNIST
4.7 MEDIUM
LOCAL
HIGH
LOW
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
LinuxCNA
---
---
Base Score
CVSS 3.x
EPSS Score
Percentile: 3%
VendorProductVersion
linuxlinux_kernel
6.6.66 ≤
𝑥
< 6.6.102
linuxlinux_kernel
6.12.5 ≤
𝑥
< 6.12.42
linuxlinux_kernel
6.13 ≤
𝑥
< 6.15.10
linuxlinux_kernel
6.16 ≤
𝑥
< 6.16.1
𝑥
= Vulnerable software versions
Debian logo
Debian Releases
Debian Product
Codename
linux
bullseye
5.10.223-1
not-affected
bookworm
6.1.148-1
not-affected
bullseye (security)
5.10.247-1
fixed
bookworm (security)
6.1.158-1
fixed
trixie
6.12.57-1
fixed
trixie (security)
6.12.48-1
fixed
forky
6.17.13-1
fixed
sid
6.18.3-1
fixed