Linux Kernel up to 6.16.1/6.17-rc1 netfilter privilege escalation

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
5.4$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 6.16.1/6.17-rc1. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component netfilter. This manipulation causes an unknown weakness. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2025-38678. No exploit is available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.16.1/6.17-rc1. Affected by this vulnerability is some unknown functionality of the component netfilter. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nf_tables: reject duplicate device on updates A chain/flowtable update with duplicated devices in the same batch is possible. Unfortunately, netdev event path only removes the first device that is found, leaving unregistered the hook of the duplicated device. Check if a duplicated device exists in the transaction batch, bail out with EEXIST in such case. WARNING is hit when unregistering the hook: [49042.221275] WARNING: CPU: 4 PID: 8425 at net/netfilter/core.c:340 nf_hook_entry_head+0xaa/0x150 [49042.221375] CPU: 4 UID: 0 PID: 8425 Comm: nft Tainted: G S 6.16.0+ #170 PREEMPT(full) [...] [49042.221382] RIP: 0010:nf_hook_entry_head+0xaa/0x150

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-38678 since 04/16/2025. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 261539 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38678), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.16.2 or 6.17-rc2 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch d7615bde541f16517d6790412da6ec46fa8a4c1f/cf5fb87fcdaaaafec55dcc0dc5a9e15ead343973 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 (261539), EUVD (EUVD-2025-26497) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1965). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Affected

  • Debian Linux
  • Google Cloud Platform
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • Microsoft Azure
  • Dell Secure Connect Gateway
  • Dell NetWorker

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.4

VulDB Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Temp Score: 5.3
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Privilege escalation
CWE: Unknown
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

Nessus ID: 261539
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38678

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.16.2/6.17-rc2
Patch: d7615bde541f16517d6790412da6ec46fa8a4c1f/cf5fb87fcdaaaafec55dcc0dc5a9e15ead343973

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
09/03/2025 +140 days Advisory disclosed
09/03/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
03/24/2026 +202 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38678 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38678
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-322345
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1965 - Linux Kernel: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Denial of Service

Entryinfo

Created: 09/03/2025 16:18
Updated: 03/24/2026 12:11
Changes: 09/03/2025 16:18 (57), 09/04/2025 21:27 (7), 09/06/2025 16:23 (2), 10/26/2025 07:11 (1), 11/26/2025 13:56 (10), 12/07/2025 01:12 (1), 01/07/2026 07:20 (1), 01/30/2026 15:34 (1), 03/24/2026 12:11 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Want to stay up to date on a daily basis?

Enable the mail alert feature now!