Linux Kernel up to 6.17-rc4 i40e list_first_entry null pointer dereference

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.
6.3$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as critical has been reported in Linux Kernel up to 6.17-rc4. The impacted element is the function list_first_entry of the component i40e. Performing a manipulation results in null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-39853. No exploit is available. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.17-rc4. This affects the function list_first_entry of the component i40e. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. This is going to have an impact on availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: i40e: Fix potential invalid access when MAC list is empty list_first_entry() never returns NULL - if the list is empty, it still returns a pointer to an invalid object, leading to potential invalid memory access when dereferenced. Fix this by using list_first_entry_or_null instead of list_first_entry.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-39853 since 04/16/2025. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 265484 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-39853), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.4.299, 5.10.243, 5.15.192, 6.1.151, 6.6.105, 6.12.46, 6.16.6 or 6.17-rc5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 971feafe157afac443027acdc235badc6838560b/3c6fb929afa313d9d11f780451d113f73922fe5d/1eadabcf5623f1237a539b16586b4ed8ac8dffcd/e2a5e74879f9b494bbd66fa93f355feacde450c7/fb216d980fae6561c7c70af8ef826faf059c6515/66e7cdbda74ee823ec2bf7b830ebd235c54f5ddf/9c21fc4cebd44dd21016c61261a683af390343f8/a556f06338e1d5a85af0e32ecb46e365547f92b9 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 (265484) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2099). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Affected

  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • IBM QRadar SIEM
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • 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: 6.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.3

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

NVD Base Score: 7.1
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

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

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Null pointer dereference
CWE: CWE-476 / CWE-404
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: 265484
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-39853

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.4.299/5.10.243/5.15.192/6.1.151/6.6.105/6.12.46/6.16.6/6.17-rc5
Patch: 971feafe157afac443027acdc235badc6838560b/3c6fb929afa313d9d11f780451d113f73922fe5d/1eadabcf5623f1237a539b16586b4ed8ac8dffcd/e2a5e74879f9b494bbd66fa93f355feacde450c7/fb216d980fae6561c7c70af8ef826faf059c6515/66e7cdbda74ee823ec2bf7b830ebd235c54f5ddf/9c21fc4cebd44dd21016c61261a683af390343f8/a556f06338e1d5a85af0e32ecb46e365547f92b9

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
09/19/2025 +156 days Advisory disclosed
09/19/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
01/20/2026 +123 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-39853 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-39853
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-325035
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2099 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 09/19/2025 18:11
Updated: 01/20/2026 17:56
Changes: 09/19/2025 18:11 (59), 09/22/2025 18:08 (2), 10/20/2025 20:58 (7), 11/12/2025 04:34 (1), 11/29/2025 07:12 (1), 12/22/2025 10:56 (1), 01/20/2026 17:56 (11)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Might our Artificial Intelligence support you?

Check our Alexa App!