Linux Kernel up to 6.16-rc1 net_sched __red_change race condition

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.7$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.16-rc1. Affected by this vulnerability is the function __red_change of the component net_sched. This manipulation causes race condition. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2025-38108. No exploit exists. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.16-rc1. Affected by this vulnerability is the function __red_change of the component net_sched. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a race condition vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-362. The product contains a code sequence that can run concurrently with other code, and the code sequence requires temporary, exclusive access to a shared resource, but a timing window exists in which the shared resource can be modified by another code sequence that is operating concurrently. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net_sched: red: fix a race in __red_change() Gerrard Tai reported a race condition in RED, whenever SFQ perturb timer fires at the wrong time. The race is as follows: CPU 0 CPU 1 [1]: lock root [2]: qdisc_tree_flush_backlog() [3]: unlock root | | [5]: lock root | [6]: rehash | [7]: qdisc_tree_reduce_backlog() | [4]: qdisc_put() This can be abused to underflow a parent's qlen. Calling qdisc_purge_queue() instead of qdisc_tree_flush_backlog() should fix the race, because all packets will be purged from the qdisc before releasing the lock.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-38108 since 04/16/2025. The exploitation appears to be difficult. 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 2790c4ec481be45a80948d059cd7c9a06bc37493/a1bf6a4e9264a685b0e642994031f9c5aad72414/110a47efcf23438ff8d31dbd9c854fae2a48bf98/f569984417a4e12c67366e69bdcb752970de921d/2a71924ca4af59ffc00f0444732b6cd54b153d0e/4b755305b2b0618e857fdadb499365b5f2e478d1/444ad445df5496a785705019268a8a84b84484bb/85a3e0ede38450ea3053b8c45d28cf55208409b8 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-2025-19835) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1452). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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: 5.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.7

VulDB Base Score: 4.6
VulDB Temp Score: 4.4
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.0
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Race condition
CWE: CWE-362
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: 2790c4ec481be45a80948d059cd7c9a06bc37493/a1bf6a4e9264a685b0e642994031f9c5aad72414/110a47efcf23438ff8d31dbd9c854fae2a48bf98/f569984417a4e12c67366e69bdcb752970de921d/2a71924ca4af59ffc00f0444732b6cd54b153d0e/4b755305b2b0618e857fdadb499365b5f2e478d1/444ad445df5496a785705019268a8a84b84484bb/85a3e0ede38450ea3053b8c45d28cf55208409b8

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 🔍
07/03/2025 +78 days 🔍
07/03/2025 +0 days 🔍
04/17/2026 +288 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38108 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38108
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-314677
EUVD: 🔍
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1452 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 07/03/2025 11:37
Updated: 04/17/2026 22:52
Changes: 07/03/2025 11:37 (58), 07/03/2025 14:51 (1), 08/05/2025 11:28 (2), 08/23/2025 16:23 (7), 09/21/2025 15:38 (1), 11/09/2025 11:48 (1), 12/06/2025 03:20 (1), 12/16/2025 18:34 (12), 04/17/2026 22:52 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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