Linux Kernel up to 6.12.45/6.16.5 net_sched est_timer assertion

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.45/6.16.5. The impacted element is the function est_timer of the component net_sched. The manipulation leads to assertion. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2025-39900. No exploit is available. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.45/6.16.5. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function est_timer of the component net_sched. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a assertion vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-617. The product contains an assert() or similar statement that can be triggered by an attacker, which leads to an application exit or other behavior that is more severe than necessary. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net_sched: gen_estimator: fix est_timer() vs CONFIG_PREEMPT_RT=y syzbot reported a WARNING in est_timer() [1] Problem here is that with CONFIG_PREEMPT_RT=y, timer callbacks can be preempted. Adopt preempt_disable_nested()/preempt_enable_nested() to fix this. [1] WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 16 at ./include/linux/seqlock.h:221 __seqprop_assert include/linux/seqlock.h:221 [inline] WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 16 at ./include/linux/seqlock.h:221 est_timer+0x6dc/0x9f0 net/core/gen_estimator.c:93 Modules linked in: CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 16 Comm: ktimers/0 Not tainted syzkaller #0 PREEMPT_{RT,(full)} Hardware name: Google Google Compute Engine/Google Compute Engine, BIOS Google 07/12/2025 RIP: 0010:__seqprop_assert include/linux/seqlock.h:221 [inline] RIP: 0010:est_timer+0x6dc/0x9f0 net/core/gen_estimator.c:93 Call Trace: <TASK> call_timer_fn+0x17e/0x5f0 kernel/time/timer.c:1747 expire_timers kernel/time/timer.c:1798 [inline] __run_timers kernel/time/timer.c:2372 [inline] __run_timer_base+0x648/0x970 kernel/time/timer.c:2384 run_timer_base kernel/time/timer.c:2393 [inline] run_timer_softirq+0xb7/0x180 kernel/time/timer.c:2403 handle_softirqs+0x22c/0x710 kernel/softirq.c:579 __do_softirq kernel/softirq.c:613 [inline] run_ktimerd+0xcf/0x190 kernel/softirq.c:1043 smpboot_thread_fn+0x53f/0xa60 kernel/smpboot.c:160 kthread+0x70e/0x8a0 kernel/kthread.c:463 ret_from_fork+0x3fc/0x770 arch/x86/kernel/process.c:148 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:245 </TASK>

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-39900 since 04/16/2025. The exploitation is known to be difficult. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 269673 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-39900), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.12.46 or 6.16.6 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch a22ec2ee824be30803068a52f78f7ffe3bc879fb/e79923824c48b930609680be04cb29253fc4a17d/9f74c0ea9b26d1505d55b61e36b1623dd347e1d1 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 (269673) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2170). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• SUSE openSUSE
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.12.0
• 6.12.1
• 6.12.2
• 6.12.3
• 6.12.4
• 6.12.5
• 6.12.6
• 6.12.7
• 6.12.8
• 6.12.9
• 6.12.10
• 6.12.11
• 6.12.12
• 6.12.13
• 6.12.14
• 6.12.15
• 6.12.16
• 6.12.17
• 6.12.18
• 6.12.19
• 6.12.20
• 6.12.21
• 6.12.22
• 6.12.23
• 6.12.24
• 6.12.25
• 6.12.26
• 6.12.27
• 6.12.28
• 6.12.29
• 6.12.30
• 6.12.31
• 6.12.32
• 6.12.33
• 6.12.34
• 6.12.35
• 6.12.36
• 6.12.37
• 6.12.38
• 6.12.39
• 6.12.40
• 6.12.41
• 6.12.42
• 6.12.43
• 6.12.44
• 6.12.45
• 6.16.0
• 6.16.1
• 6.16.2
• 6.16.3
• 6.16.4
• 6.16.5

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

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

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