CVE-2025-40288: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/amdgpu: Fix NULL pointer dereference in VRAM logic for APU devices Previousl...

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/amdgpu: Fix NULL pointer dereference in VRAM logic for APU devices Previously, APU platforms (and other scenarios with uninitialized VRAM managers) triggered a NULL pointer dereference in `ttm_resource_manager_usage()`. The root cause is not that the `struct ttm_resource_manager *man` pointer itself is NULL, but that `man->bdev` (the backing device pointer within the manager) remains uninitialized (NULL) on APUs—since APUs lack dedicated VRAM and do not fully set up VRAM manager structures. When `ttm_resource_manager_usage()` attempts to acquire `man->bdev->lru_lock`, it dereferences the NULL `man->bdev`, leading to a kernel OOPS. 1. **amdgpu_cs.c**: Extend the existing bandwidth control check in `amdgpu_cs_get_threshold_for_moves()` to include a check for `ttm_resource_manager_used()`. If the manager is not used (uninitialized `bdev`), return 0 for migration thresholds immediately—skipping VRAM-specific logic that would trigger the NULL dereference. 2. **amdgpu_kms.c**: Update the `AMDGPU_INFO_VRAM_USAGE` ioctl and memory info reporting to use a conditional: if the manager is used, return the real VRAM usage; otherwise, return 0. This avoids accessing `man->bdev` when it is NULL. 3. **amdgpu_virt.c**: Modify the vf2pf (virtual function to physical function) data write path. Use `ttm_resource_manager_used()` to check validity: if the manager is usable, calculate `fb_usage` from VRAM usage; otherwise, set `fb_usage` to 0 (APUs have no discrete framebuffer to report). This approach is more robust than APU-specific checks because it: - Works for all scenarios where the VRAM manager is uninitialized (not just APUs), - Aligns with TTM's design by using its native helper function, - Preserves correct behavior for discrete GPUs (which have fully initialized `man->bdev` and pass the `ttm_resource_manager_used()` check). v4: use ttm_resource_manager_used(&adev->mman.vram_mgr.manager) instead of checking the adev->gmc.is_app_apu flag (Christian)

Metrics

EPSS Probability

0.16%

5.2th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

References

Timeline

Published: Dec 6, 2025
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Deferred

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-40288?

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/amdgpu: Fix NULL pointer dereference in VRAM logic for APU devices Previously, APU platforms (and other scenarios with uninitialized VRAM managers) triggered a NULL pointer dereference in `ttm_resource_manager_usage()`. The root cause is not that the `struct ttm_resource_manager *man` pointer itself is NULL, but that `man->bdev` (the backing device pointer within the manager) remains uninitialized (NULL) on APUs—since APUs lack dedicated VRAM and do not fully set up VRAM manager structures. When `ttm_resource_manager_usage()` attempts to acquire `man->bdev->lru_lock`, it dereferences the NULL `man->bdev`, leading to a kernel OOPS. 1. **amdgpu_cs.c**: Extend the existing bandwidth control check in `amdgpu_cs_get_threshold_for_moves()` to include a check for `ttm_resource_manager_used()`. If the manager is not used (uninitialized `bdev`), return 0 for migration thresholds immediately—skipping VRAM-specific logic that would trigger the NULL dereference. 2. **amdgpu_kms.c**: Update the `AMDGPU_INFO_VRAM_USAGE` ioctl and memory info reporting to use a conditional: if the manager is used, return the real VRAM usage; otherwise, return 0. This avoids accessing `man->bdev` when it is NULL. 3. **amdgpu_virt.c**: Modify the vf2pf (virtual function to physical function) data write path. Use `ttm_resource_manager_used()` to check validity: if the manager is usable, calculate `fb_usage` from VRAM usage; otherwise, set `fb_usage` to 0 (APUs have no discrete framebuffer to report). This approach is more robust than APU-specific checks because it: - Works for all scenarios where the VRAM manager is uninitialized (not just APUs), - Aligns with TTM's design by using its native helper function, - Preserves correct behavior for discrete GPUs (which have fully initialized `man->bdev` and pass the `ttm_resource_manager_used()` check). v4: use ttm_resource_manager_used(&adev->mman.vram_mgr.manager) instead of checking the adev->gmc.is_app_apu flag (Christian)

How severe is CVE-2025-40288?

Severity scoring for CVE-2025-40288 is pending analysis. The EPSS model estimates a 0.16% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2025-40288?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.