Linux Kernel up to 6.16-rc1 net_sched enqueue denial of service

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CTI Interest Score
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6.3$0-$5k0.78

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 6.16-rc1. The impacted element is the function enqueue of the component net_sched. Performing a manipulation results in denial of service. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-38115. There is no available exploit. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.16-rc1. It has been classified as critical. This affects the function enqueue of the component net_sched. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a denial of service vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-404. The product does not release or incorrectly releases a resource before it is made available for re-use. This is going to have an impact on availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net_sched: sch_sfq: fix a potential crash on gso_skb handling SFQ has an assumption of always being able to queue at least one packet. However, after the blamed commit, sch->q.len can be inflated by packets in sch->gso_skb, and an enqueue() on an empty SFQ qdisc can be followed by an immediate drop. Fix sfq_drop() to properly clear q->tail in this situation. ip netns add lb ip link add dev to-lb type veth peer name in-lb netns lb ethtool -K to-lb tso off # force qdisc to requeue gso_skb ip netns exec lb ethtool -K in-lb gro on # enable NAPI ip link set dev to-lb up ip -netns lb link set dev in-lb up ip addr add dev to-lb 192.168.20.1/24 ip -netns lb addr add dev in-lb 192.168.20.2/24 tc qdisc replace dev to-lb root sfq limit 100 ip netns exec lb netserver netperf -H 192.168.20.2 -l 100 & netperf -H 192.168.20.2 -l 100 & netperf -H 192.168.20.2 -l 100 & netperf -H 192.168.20.2 -l 100 &

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-38115 since 04/16/2025. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 243500 (Amazon Linux 2023 : bpftool, kernel, kernel-devel (ALAS2023-2025-1111)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.4.295, 5.10.239, 5.15.186, 6.1.142, 6.6.94, 6.12.34, 6.15.3 or 6.16-rc2 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch c337efb20d6d9f9bbb4746f6b119917af5c886dc/b44f791f27b14c9eb6b907fbe51f2ba8bec32085/5814a7fc3abb41f63f2d44c9d3ff9d4e62965b72/9c19498bdd7cb9d854bd3c54260f71cf7408495e/b4e9bab6011b9559b7c157b16b91ae46d4d8c533/d1bc80da75c789f2f6830df89d91fb2f7a509943/82448d4dcd8406dec688632a405fdcf7f170ec69/82ffbe7776d0ac084031f114167712269bf3d832 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (243500), EUVD (EUVD-2025-19828) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1452). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Affected

  • Google Container-Optimized OS
  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • IBM QRadar SIEM
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Dell Avamar
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • Dell NetWorker
  • Dell Secure Connect Gateway

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.3

VulDB Base Score: 5.7
VulDB Temp Score: 5.5
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 7.8
CNA Vector (Linux): 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Denial of service
CWE: CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 243500
Nessus Name: Amazon Linux 2023 : bpftool, kernel, kernel-devel (ALAS2023-2025-1111)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Kernel 5.4.295/5.10.239/5.15.186/6.1.142/6.6.94/6.12.34/6.15.3/6.16-rc2
Patch: c337efb20d6d9f9bbb4746f6b119917af5c886dc/b44f791f27b14c9eb6b907fbe51f2ba8bec32085/5814a7fc3abb41f63f2d44c9d3ff9d4e62965b72/9c19498bdd7cb9d854bd3c54260f71cf7408495e/b4e9bab6011b9559b7c157b16b91ae46d4d8c533/d1bc80da75c789f2f6830df89d91fb2f7a509943/82448d4dcd8406dec688632a405fdcf7f170ec69/82ffbe7776d0ac084031f114167712269bf3d832

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 🔍
07/03/2025 +78 days 🔍
07/03/2025 +0 days 🔍
07/31/2026 +393 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38115 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38115
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-314673
EUVD: 🔍
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1452 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 07/03/2025 11:36
Updated: 07/31/2026 19:57
Changes: 07/03/2025 11:36 (59), 07/03/2025 14:39 (1), 08/05/2025 11:28 (2), 08/23/2025 16:30 (7), 09/21/2025 15:38 (1), 11/09/2025 11:48 (1), 12/06/2025 03:20 (1), 12/18/2025 01:39 (11), 04/18/2026 00:34 (1), 07/31/2026 19:57 (13)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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