Linux Kernel up to 6.16.9 i40e action_meta 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.
5.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.16.9. It has been declared as critical. The affected element is the function action_meta of the component i40e. Executing a manipulation can lead to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2025-39970. No exploit exists. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.16.9. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects the function action_meta of the component i40e. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is 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. As an impact it is known to affect availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: i40e: fix input validation logic for action_meta Fix condition to check 'greater or equal' to prevent OOB dereference.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-39970 since 04/16/2025. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 274816 (Debian dsa-6053 : affs-modules-6.1.0-37-4kc-malta-di - security update), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.4.300, 5.10.245, 5.15.194, 6.1.155, 6.6.109, 6.12.50 or 6.16.10 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch a88c1b2746eccf00e2094b187945f0f1e990b400/28465770ca3b694286ff9ed6dfd558413f57d98f/f8c8e11825b24661596fa8db2f0981ba17ed0817/461e0917eedcd159d87f3ea846754a1e07d7e78a/3883e9702b6a4945e93b16c070f338a9f5b496f9/3118f41d8fa57b005f53ec3db2ba5eab1d7ba12b/560e1683410585fbd5df847f43433c4296f0d222/9739d5830497812b0bdeaee356ddefbe60830b88 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 (274816) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2298). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Affected

  • Google Container-Optimized OS
  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • IBM QRadar SIEM
  • 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: 5.7
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.5

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

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: No
Local: No
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

Nessus ID: 274816
Nessus Name: Debian dsa-6053 : affs-modules-6.1.0-37-4kc-malta-di - security update

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.4.300/5.10.245/5.15.194/6.1.155/6.6.109/6.12.50/6.16.10
Patch: a88c1b2746eccf00e2094b187945f0f1e990b400/28465770ca3b694286ff9ed6dfd558413f57d98f/f8c8e11825b24661596fa8db2f0981ba17ed0817/461e0917eedcd159d87f3ea846754a1e07d7e78a/3883e9702b6a4945e93b16c070f338a9f5b496f9/3118f41d8fa57b005f53ec3db2ba5eab1d7ba12b/560e1683410585fbd5df847f43433c4296f0d222/9739d5830497812b0bdeaee356ddefbe60830b88

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
10/15/2025 +182 days Advisory disclosed
10/15/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
02/02/2026 +110 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-39970 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-39970
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-328642
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2298 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 10/15/2025 12:08
Updated: 02/02/2026 11:04
Changes: 10/15/2025 12:08 (59), 11/03/2025 13:30 (7), 11/12/2025 08:13 (2), 11/22/2025 13:12 (1), 12/21/2025 06:25 (1), 02/02/2026 11:04 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Do you know our Splunk app?

Download it now for free!