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CVE Record

CVE-2025-22070: fs/9p: fix NULL pointer dereference on mkdir

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs/9p: fix NULL pointer dereference on mkdir When a 9p tree was mounted with option 'posixacl', parent directory had a default ACL set for its subdirectories, e.g.: setfacl -m default:group:simpsons:rwx parentdir then creating a subdirectory crashed 9p client, as v9fs_fid_add() call in function v9fs_vfs_mkdir_dotl() sets the passed 'fid' pointer to NULL (since dafbe689736) even though the subsequent v9fs_set_create_acl() call expects a valid non-NULL 'fid' pointer: [ 37.273191] BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000 ... [ 37.322338] Call Trace: [ 37.323043] <TASK> [ 37.323621] ? __die (arch/x86/kernel/dumpstack.c:421 arch/x86/kernel/dumpstack.c:434) [ 37.324448] ? page_fault_oops (arch/x86/mm/fault.c:714) [ 37.325532] ? search_module_extables (kernel/module/main.c:3733) [ 37.326742] ? p9_client_walk (net/9p/client.c:1165) 9pnet [ 37.328006] ? search_bpf_extables (kernel/bpf/core.c:804) [ 37.329142] ? exc_page_fault (./arch/x86/include/asm/paravirt.h:686 arch/x86/mm/fault.c:1488 arch/x86/mm/fault.c:1538) [ 37.330196] ? asm_exc_page_fault (./arch/x86/include/asm/idtentry.h:574) [ 37.331330] ? p9_client_walk (net/9p/client.c:1165) 9pnet [ 37.332562] ? v9fs_fid_xattr_get (fs/9p/xattr.c:30) 9p [ 37.333824] v9fs_fid_xattr_set (fs/9p/fid.h:23 fs/9p/xattr.c:121) 9p [ 37.335077] v9fs_set_acl (fs/9p/acl.c:276) 9p [ 37.336112] v9fs_set_create_acl (fs/9p/acl.c:307) 9p [ 37.337326] v9fs_vfs_mkdir_dotl (fs/9p/vfs_inode_dotl.c:411) 9p [ 37.338590] vfs_mkdir (fs/namei.c:4313) [ 37.339535] do_mkdirat (fs/namei.c:4336) [ 37.340465] __x64_sys_mkdir (fs/namei.c:4354) [ 37.341455] do_syscall_64 (arch/x86/entry/common.c:52 arch/x86/entry/common.c:83) [ 37.342447] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe (arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:130) Fix this by simply swapping the sequence of these two calls in v9fs_vfs_mkdir_dotl(), i.e. calling v9fs_set_create_acl() before v9fs_fid_add().

MediumCVSS 5.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2025-22070 is a Linux kernel availability issue in the 9p filesystem client. Under a specific 9p mount and ACL configuration, creating a directory can trigger a NULL pointer dereference and crash the client path. It does not indicate data theft or privilege escalation in the provided sources.

Executive priority

Treat as a targeted availability risk, not a broad compromise signal. Patch through normal kernel maintenance, with higher priority for virtualization, development, or shared-filesystem environments that rely on 9p mounts.

Technical view

The flaw is in fs/9p mkdir handling with the posixacl mount option and inherited default ACLs. v9fs_fid_add() can set the fid pointer to NULL before v9fs_set_create_acl() uses it, causing CWE-476 NULL pointer dereference. Stable kernel fixes reorder those calls.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems using 9p mounts with posixacl enabled and default ACLs on parent directories. A local low-privileged user with access to create directories on that mount is the relevant actor. Systems not using 9p filesystem mounts are unlikely to be exposed.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or any cited evidence of active exploitation. The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, with high availability impact and no confidentiality or integrity impact.

Researcher notes

The evidence supports a local denial-of-service condition in a narrow 9p ACL path. The affected-version data in the bundle is abbreviated, so validation should rely on kernel or distribution advisory mapping to the listed stable commits.

Mitigation direction

  • Update affected Linux kernels using vendor guidance or referenced stable commits.
  • Prioritize systems where 9p mounts are enabled with posixacl.
  • Review distribution advisories for fixed package versions before rollout.
  • Consider disabling unnecessary 9p mounts where operationally safe.
  • Test kernel updates against workloads that depend on 9p filesystems.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions against vendor fixed releases.
  • Identify hosts with active 9p filesystem mounts.
  • Check whether 9p mounts use the posixacl option.
  • Review logs for 9p-related NULL pointer dereference crashes.
  • Confirm patched kernels include the referenced fs/9p mkdir fix.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
6

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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ATT&CK lookup starting points

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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-476: Exact CWE lookup

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2025-22070 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.5 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
5Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
5.5CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

5.5Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-22070Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
cvssV3_1other:ssvc
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxdafbe689736f62c696ac64809b17bdc752cfbe76, dafbe689736f62c696ac64809b17bdc752cfbe76, dafbe689736f62c696ac64809b17bdc752cfbe76, dafbe689736f62c696ac64809b17bdc752cfbe76unaffected
LinuxLinux6.0, 0, 6.12.23, 6.13.11, 6.14.2, 6.15affected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-476 · source CWE mapping

NULL Pointer Dereference

NULL Pointer Dereference represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.