Vulnerability · Published Aug 19, 2025 · Assigned by Linux
CVE-2025-38609PM / devfreq: Check governor before using governor->name
Medium 5.5
In plain English
A medium-severity security flaw in Linux from Linux. There are no confirmed reports of exploitation so far. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 0.2% (higher than 6% of all known vulnerabilities). Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: PM / devfreq: Check governor before using governor->name Commit 96ffcdf239de ("PM / devfreq: Remove redundant governor_name from struct devfreq") removes governor_name and uses governor->name to replace it. But devfreq->governor may be NULL and directly using devfreq->governor->name may cause null pointer exception. Move the check of governor to before using governor->name.
Affected packages & fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | linux | 6.1.148-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Debian:13 | linux | 6.12.43-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Debian:14 | linux | 6.16.3-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux | 5.15.0-163.173 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux | 6.8.0-100.100 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-allwinner-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws | 5.15.0-1097.104 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-aws | 6.8.0-1046.49 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.14 | 6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.8 | 6.8.0-1046.49~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure | 5.15.0-1101.110 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure | 6.8.0-1046.52 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.14 | 6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.8 | 6.8.0-1051.57~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde | 5.15.0-1102.111.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde | 6.8.0-1046.53 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-azure-fde | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.8 | 6.8.0-1046.53~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-nvidia | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-nvidia-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp | 5.15.0-1097.106 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp | 6.8.0-1047.50 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.14 | 6.14.0-1020.21~24.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.8 | 6.8.0-1047.50~22.04.2 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gke | 5.15.0-1093.99 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gke | 6.8.0-1043.48 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gkeop | 5.15.0-1080.88 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gkeop | 6.8.0-1030.33 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-100.100~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-ibm | 5.15.0-1091.94 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-ibm | 6.8.0-1044.44 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-ibm-6.8 | 6.8.0-1044.44~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-intel | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-intel-iot-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-intel-iotg | 5.15.0-1092.98 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-kvm | 5.15.0-1089.94 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency | 5.15.0-163.173 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency | 6.8.0-100.100.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-100.100.1~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia | 5.15.0-1092.93 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia | 6.8.0-1046.49 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.8 | 6.8.0-1046.49~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-lowlatency | 6.8.0-1046.49.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 5.15.0-1049.49 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 6.8.0-1020.20 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra-igx | 5.15.0-1038.38 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-5.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.0 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.1 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.14 | 6.14.0-1016.16 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle | 5.15.0-1094.100 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oracle | 6.8.0-1043.44 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.14 | 6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.8 | 6.8.0-1043.44~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-raspi | 5.15.0-1091.94 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-raspi | 6.8.0-1047.51 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-riscv | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.14 | 6.14.0-36.36.1~24.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.8 | 6.8.0-100.100~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-xilinx | 6.8.0-1023.24 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-xilinx-zynqmp | 5.15.0-1061.65 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38609 |
Affected products (as reported)
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 96ffcdf239de6f9970178bb7d643e16fd9e68ab9 – before f0479e878d4beb45e73c03e574c59f0a23ccd17696ffcdf239de6f9970178bb7d643e16fd9e68ab9 – before 631e101728df2a86b8fb761b49fad9712c651f8a96ffcdf239de6f9970178bb7d643e16fd9e68ab9 – before 81f50619370045120c133bfdda5b320c8c97d41e96ffcdf239de6f9970178bb7d643e16fd9e68ab9 – before d5632359dbc44862fc1ed04093c1f5752983026196ffcdf239de6f9970178bb7d643e16fd9e68ab9 – before 2731c68f536fddcb71332db7f8d78c5eb4684c0496ffcdf239de6f9970178bb7d643e16fd9e68ab9 – before 75323a49aa603cf5484a6d74d0d329e86d756e1196ffcdf239de6f9970178bb7d643e16fd9e68ab9 – before bab7834c03820eb11269bc48f07c3800192460d2 |
| Linux | Linux | 5.11 |
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f0479e878d4beb45e73c03e574c59f0a23ccd176
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/631e101728df2a86b8fb761b49fad9712c651f8a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/81f50619370045120c133bfdda5b320c8c97d41e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d5632359dbc44862fc1ed04093c1f57529830261
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2731c68f536fddcb71332db7f8d78c5eb4684c04
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/75323a49aa603cf5484a6d74d0d329e86d756e11
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bab7834c03820eb11269bc48f07c3800192460d2
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/10/msg00008.html