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Fencer Intel
medium 5.5

CVE-2025-39903 json

of_numa: fix uninitialized memory nodes causing kernel panic

published last yr. modified 21d ago also EUVD-2025-32895

cvss
5.5
version 3.1, CNA
cisa kev
Not listed
not in CISA's catalog
epss
0.1%
EPSS 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 3%
public exploits
0
none known

Summary

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

of_numa: fix uninitialized memory nodes causing kernel panic

When there are memory-only nodes (nodes without CPUs), these nodes are not properly initialized, causing kernel panic during boot.

of_numa_init of_numa_parse_cpu_nodes node_set(nid, numa_nodes_parsed); of_numa_parse_memory_nodes

In of_numa_parse_cpu_nodes, numa_nodes_parsed gets updated only for nodes containing CPUs. Memory-only nodes should have been updated in of_numa_parse_memory_nodes, but they weren't.

Subsequently, when free_area_init() attempts to access NODE_DATA() for these uninitialized memory nodes, the kernel panics due to NULL pointer dereference.

This can be reproduced on ARM64 QEMU with 1 CPU and 2 memory nodes:

qemu-system-aarch64 \ -cpu host -nographic \ -m 4G -smp 1 \ -machine virt,accel=kvm,gic-version=3,iommu=smmuv3 \ -object memory-backend-ram,size=2G,id=mem0 \ -object memory-backend-ram,size=2G,id=mem1 \ -numa node,nodeid=0,memdev=mem0 \ -numa node,nodeid=1,memdev=mem1 \ -kernel $IMAGE \ -hda $DISK \ -append "console=ttyAMA0 root=/dev/vda rw earlycon"

[ 0.000000] Booting Linux on physical CPU 0x0000000000 [0x481fd010] [ 0.000000] Linux version 6.17.0-rc1-00001-gabb4b3daf18c-dirty (yintirui@local) (gcc (GCC) 12.3.1, GNU ld (GNU Binutils) 2.41) #52 SMP PREEMPT Mon Aug 18 09:49:40 CST 2025 [ 0.000000] KASLR enabled [ 0.000000] random: crng init done [ 0.000000] Machine model: linux,dummy-virt [ 0.000000] efi: UEFI not found. [ 0.000000] earlycon: pl11 at MMIO 0x0000000009000000 (options '') [ 0.000000] printk: legacy bootconsole [pl11] enabled [ 0.000000] OF: reserved mem: Reserved memory: No reserved-memory node in the DT [ 0.000000] NODE_DATA(0) allocated [mem 0xbfffd9c0-0xbfffffff] [ 0.000000] node 1 must be removed before remove section 23 [ 0.000000] Zone ranges: [ 0.000000] DMA [mem 0x0000000040000000-0x00000000ffffffff] [ 0.000000] DMA32 empty [ 0.000000] Normal [mem 0x0000000100000000-0x000000013fffffff] [ 0.000000] Movable zone start for each node [ 0.000000] Early memory node ranges [ 0.000000] node 0: [mem 0x0000000040000000-0x00000000bfffffff] [ 0.000000] node 1: [mem 0x00000000c0000000-0x000000013fffffff] [ 0.000000] Initmem setup node 0 [mem 0x0000000040000000-0x00000000bfffffff] [ 0.000000] Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 00000000000000a0 [ 0.000000] Mem abort info: [ 0.000000] ESR = 0x0000000096000004 [ 0.000000] EC = 0x25: DABT (current EL), IL = 32 bits [ 0.000000] SET = 0, FnV = 0 [ 0.000000] EA = 0, S1PTW = 0 [ 0.000000] FSC = 0x04: level 0 translation fault [ 0.000000] Data abort info: [ 0.000000] ISV = 0, ISS = 0x00000004, ISS2 = 0x00000000 [ 0.000000] CM = 0, WnR = 0, TnD = 0, TagAccess = 0 [ 0.000000] GCS = 0, Overlay = 0, DirtyBit = 0, Xs = 0 [ 0.000000] [00000000000000a0] user address but active_mm is swapper [ 0.000000] Internal error: Oops: 0000000096000004 [#1] SMP [ 0.000000] Modules linked in: [ 0.000000] CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 0 Comm: swapper Not tainted 6.17.0-rc1-00001-g760c6dabf762-dirty #54 PREEMPT [ 0.000000] Hardware name: linux,dummy-virt (DT) [ 0.000000] pstate: 800000c5 (Nzcv daIF -PAN -UAO -TCO -DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) [ 0.000000] pc : free_area_init+0x50c/0xf9c [ 0.000000] lr : free_area_init+0x5c0/0xf9c [ 0.000000] sp : ffffa02ca0f33c00 [ 0.000000] x29: ffffa02ca0f33cb0 x28: 0000000000000000 x27: 0000000000000000 [ 0.000000] x26: 4ec4ec4ec4ec4ec5 x25: 00000000000c0000 x24: 00000000000c0000 [ 0.000000] x23: 0000000000040000 x22: 0000000000000000 x21: ffffa02ca0f3b368 [ 0.000000] x20: ffffa02ca14c7b98 x19: 0000000000000000 x18: 0000000000000002 [ 0.000000] x17: 000000000000cacc x16: 0000000000000001 x15: 0000000000000001 [ 0.000000] x14: 0000000080000000 x13: 0000000000000018 x12: 0000000000000002 [ 0.0 ---truncated---

Patch / fix

  • Linux Linux 6.12.46, 6.16.6, 6.17
  • linux Debian 13 6.12.48-1
  • linux Debian 14 6.16.6-1

debian advisories DEBIAN-CVE-2025-39903

  • kernel RHEL 10.1 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1
  • rv RHEL 10.1 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1
  • perf RHEL 10.1 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1
  • rtla RHEL 10.1 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1
  • libperf RHEL 10.1 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1
  • kernel-rt RHEL 10.1 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1
  • kernel-64k RHEL 10.1 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1
  • kernel-core RHEL 10.1 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1

red hat advisories RHSA-2025:21492RHSA-2025:21463

  • kernel-rt Linux Micro 6.2 6.12.0-160000.7.1
  • kernel-64kb SLES 16.0, Linux Micro 6.2, SLES for SAP applications 16.0 6.12.0-160000.7.1
  • kernel-source SLES 16.0, Linux Micro 6.2, SLES for SAP applications 16.0 6.12.0-160000.7.1
  • kernel-default SLES 16.0, SLE High Availability Extension 16.0, Linux Micro 6.2 +1 more 6.12.0-160000.7.1
  • kernel-default-base SLES 16.0, Linux Micro 6.2, SLES for SAP applications 16.0 6.12.0-160000.6.1.160000.2.4
  • kernel-syms SLES 16.0, Linux Micro Extras 6.2, SLES for SAP applications 16.0 6.12.0-160000.7.1
  • kernel-obs-qa SLES for SAP applications 16.0, SLES 16.0 6.12.0-160000.7.1
  • kernel-kvmsmall SLES for SAP applications 16.0, SLES 16.0 6.12.0-160000.7.1

suse advisories SUSE-SU-2025:21080-1SUSE-SU-2025:21147-1SUSE-SU-2025:21180-1SUSE-SU-2026:20561-1

  • kernel-rt openSUSE Leap 16.0 6.12.0-160000.7.1
  • dtb-aarch64 openSUSE Leap 16.0 6.12.0-160000.7.1
  • kernel-64kb openSUSE Leap 16.0 6.12.0-160000.7.1
  • kernel-syms openSUSE Leap 16.0 6.12.0-160000.7.1
  • kernel-obs-qa openSUSE Leap 16.0 6.12.0-160000.7.1
  • kernel-source openSUSE Leap 16.0 6.12.0-160000.7.1
  • kernel-default openSUSE Leap 16.0 6.12.0-160000.7.1
  • kernel-kvmsmall openSUSE Leap 16.0 6.12.0-160000.7.1

opensuse advisories openSUSE-SU-2025:20091-1

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Vendor advisories

What the vendors themselves say about their products: affected, fixed or not affected, and what to do.

red hat product security vex CVE-2025-39903 updated cvss 7.3

kernel: of_numa: fix uninitialized memory nodes causing kernel panic

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) rv 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, perf 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, rtla 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, python3-perf 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, kernel-devel-matched 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, kernel-64k-devel-matched 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, +7 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2025:21463
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 10.0) rv 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, perf 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, rtla 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, python3-perf 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, kernel-devel-matched 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-devel-matched 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, +7 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2025:21492
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) kernel 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, kernel-64k 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, kernel-core 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, kernel-tools 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, kernel-modules 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, kernel-64k-core 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, +28 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2025:21463
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 10.0) kernel 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, kernel-64k 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, kernel-core 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, kernel-tools 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, kernel-modules 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-core 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, +27 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2025:21492
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) libperf 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, kernel-debuginfo-common-s390x 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, kernel-debuginfo-common-aarch64 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, kernel-debuginfo-common-ppc64le 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2025:21463
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 10.0) libperf 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, kernel-debuginfo-common-s390x 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, kernel-debuginfo-common-aarch64 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, kernel-debuginfo-common-ppc64le 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2025:21492
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) kernel-rt 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, kernel-rt-64k 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, kernel-rt-core 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, kernel-rt-modules 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, kernel-rt-64k-core 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, kernel-rt-debug-core 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, +14 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2025:21463
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-rt 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-64k 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-core 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-modules 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-64k-core 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-debug-core 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, +14 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2025:21492
show 3 more
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) kernel-rt 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, kernel-rt-core 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, kernel-rt-modules 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, kernel-rt-debug-core 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, kernel-rt-modules-core 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, kernel-rt-debug-modules 6.12.0-124.11.1.el10_1, +4 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2025:21463
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-rt 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-kvm 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-core 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-modules 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-debug-kvm 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-debug-core 6.12.0-55.45.1.el10_0, +6 more
    fixed: vendor fix RHSA-2025:21492
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 perf, kernel, python-perf, kernel-kdump, kernel-firmware, kernel-bootwrapper, +1 more Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 perf, kernel, bpftool, kernel-rt, python-perf, kernel-kdump, +8 more Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 perf, kernel, bpftool, kernel-rt, kernel-core, kernel-tools, +29 more Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 rv, perf, rtla, kernel, bpftool, libperf, +83 more
    not affected: vulnerable code not present

Red Hat CSAF VEX © Red Hat, Inc., from https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/; changed: reduced to product statuses and remediations. CC BY 4.0 · csaf

CISA SSVC

Exploitation
none
Automatable
no
Technical impact
partial
Assessed
9mo ago

Exploit prediction

0.15% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 3% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-09).

CVSS scores

assigned by version score vector
CISA ADP 3.1 5.5 CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
NVD 3.1 5.5 CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CNA 3.1 5.5 CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Affected products

  • Linux Linux

Classification

Weakness
Technology feeds

References

Sources

Fencer Intel keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.