CVE-2025-71125

What it is

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tracing: Do not register unsupported perf events Synthetic events currently do not have a function to register perf events. This leads to calling the tracepoint register functions with a NULL function pointer which triggers: ------------[ cut here ]------------ WARNING: kernel/tracepoint.c:175 at tracepoint_add_func+0x357/0x370, CPU#2: perf/2272 Modules linked in: kvm_intel kvm irqbypass CPU: 2 UID: 0 PID: 2272 Comm: perf Not tainted 6.18.0-ftest-11964-ge022764176fc-dirty #323 PREEMPTLAZY Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS 1.17.0-debian-1.17.0-1 04/01/2014 RIP: 0010:tracepoint_add_func+0x357/0x370 Code: 28 9c e8 4c 0b f5 ff eb 0f 4c 89 f7 48 c7 c6 80 4d 28 9c e8 ab 89 f4 ff 31 c0 5b 41 5c 41 5d 41 5e 41 5f 5d c3 cc cc cc cc cc <0f> 0b 49 c7 c6 ea ff ff ff e9 ee fe ff ff 0f 0b e9 f9 fe ff ff 0f RSP: 0018:ffffabc0c44d3c40 EFLAGS: 00010246 RAX: 0000000000000001 RBX: ffff9380aa9e4060 RCX: 0000000000000000 RDX: 000000000000000a RSI: ffffffff9e1d4a98 RDI: ffff937fcf5fd6c8 RBP: 0000000000000001 R08: 0000000000000007 R09: ffff937fcf5fc780 R10: 0000000000000003 R11: ffffffff9c193910 R12: 000000000000000a R13: ffffffff9e1e5888 R14: 0000000000000000 R15: ffffabc0c44d3c78 FS: 00007f6202f5f340(0000) GS:ffff93819f00f000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 000055d3162281a8 CR3: 0000000106a56003 CR4: 0000000000172ef0 Call Trace: <TASK> tracepoint_probe_register+0x5d/0x90 synth_event_reg+0x3c/0x60 perf_trace_event_init+0x204/0x340 perf_trace_init+0x85/0xd0 perf_tp_event_init+0x2e/0x50 perf_try_init_event+0x6f/0x230 ? perf_event_alloc+0x4bb/0xdc0 perf_event_alloc+0x65a/0xdc0 __se_sys_perf_event_open+0x290/0x9f0 do_syscall_64+0x93/0x7b0 ? entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e ? trace_hardirqs_off+0x53/0xc0 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e Instead, have the code return -ENODEV, which doesn't warn and has perf error out with: # perf record -e synthetic:futex_wait Error: The sys_perf_event_open() syscall returned with 19 (No such device) for event (synthetic:futex_wait). "dmesg | grep -i perf" may provide additional information. Ideally perf should support synthetic events, but for now just fix the warning. The support can come later.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of service disruption.

Exploit odds

0.2% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2026-01-14 15:16 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-10-19 19:17 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.2% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 5.5 MEDIUM (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2026-01-14 15:16 UTC

Last modified

2026-10-19 19:17 UTC

Exploit probability

0.2% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-476 · NULL pointer dereference

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Linux Kernel < 5.10.248
• Linux Kernel < 5.15.198
• Linux Kernel < 6.1.160
• Linux Kernel < 6.6.120
• Linux Kernel < 6.12.64
• Linux Kernel < 6.18.3
• Linux Kernel 4.17
• Linux Kernel 6.19

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 5.5

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

None

Integrity

None

Availability

High

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2025-71125.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2025-71125. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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