CVE-2025-38277

mtd: nand: ecc-mxic: Fix use of uninitialized variable ret

Published Jul 10, 2025 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

mtd: nand: ecc-mxic: Fix use of uninitialized variable ret

If ctx->steps is zero, the loop processing ECC steps is skipped,
and the variable ret remains uninitialized. It is later checked
and returned, which leads to undefined behavior and may cause
unpredictable results in user space or kernel crashes.

This scenario can be triggered in edge cases such as misconfigured
geometry, ECC engine misuse, or if ctx->steps is not validated
after initialization.

Initialize ret to zero before the loop to ensure correct and safe
behavior regardless of the ctx->steps value.

Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with SVACE.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4328-1 linux-6.1 security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-5973-1 linux security update
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2025-20971 In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mtd: nand: ecc-mxic: Fix use of uninitialized variable ret If ctx->steps is zero, the loop processing ECC steps is skipped, and the variable ret remains uninitialized. It is later checked and returned, which leads to undefined behavior and may cause unpredictable results in user space or kernel crashes. This scenario can be triggered in edge cases such as misconfigured geometry, ECC engine misuse, or if ctx->steps is not validated after initialization. Initialize ret to zero before the loop to ensure correct and safe behavior regardless of the ctx->steps value. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with SVACE.
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7769-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7769-2 Linux kernel (Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7769-3 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7770-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7771-1 Linux kernel (OEM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7789-1 Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7789-2 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8028-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8028-2 Linux kernel (Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8031-1 Linux kernel (GCP) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8028-3 Linux kernel (Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8028-4 Linux kernel (FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8028-5 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8031-2 Linux kernel (GCP FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8028-6 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8031-3 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8052-1 Linux kernel (Low Latency) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8028-7 Linux kernel (Low Latency NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8028-8 Linux kernel (IBM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8052-2 Linux kernel (Xilinx) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8074-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8074-2 Linux kernel (Azure FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8126-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Debian
Debian debian Linux
Weaknesses CWE-908
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Debian
Debian debian Linux
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics epss

{'score': 0.00018}

epss

{'score': 0.00024}

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mtd: nand: ecc-mxic: Fix use of uninitialized variable ret If ctx->steps is zero, the loop processing ECC steps is skipped, and the variable ret remains uninitialized. It is later checked and returned, which leads to undefined behavior and may cause unpredictable results in user space or kernel crashes. This scenario can be triggered in edge cases such as misconfigured geometry, ECC engine misuse, or if ctx->steps is not validated after initialization. Initialize ret to zero before the loop to ensure correct and safe behavior regardless of the ctx->steps value. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with SVACE.
Title mtd: nand: ecc-mxic: Fix use of uninitialized variable ret
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
May 11, 2026, 9:24 PM
Reserved
Apr 16, 2025, 4:51 AM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Jul 10, 2025, 8:15 AM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 9:16 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Jul 10, 2025, 12:00 AM