Linux Kernel up to 6.17.2 KVM privilege escalation

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.3$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.17.2. It has been declared as critical. Affected is an unknown function of the component KVM. The manipulation results in an unknown weakness. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2025-40065. No exploit exists. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.17.2. It has been classified as critical. Affected is some unknown processing of the component KVM. The impact remains unknown. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: RISC-V: KVM: Write hgatp register with valid mode bits According to the RISC-V Privileged Architecture Spec, when MODE=Bare is selected,software must write zero to the remaining fields of hgatp. We have detected the valid mode supported by the HW before, So using a valid mode to detect how many vmid bits are supported.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2025-40065 since 04/16/2025. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 02/15/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 271877 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-40065), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.17.3 or 6.18-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch d00b61cd37f4c183ce0edbc9f8ccf6d5430ea357/2b351e3d04be9e1533f26c3464f1e44a5beace30 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 (271877) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2431). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Affected

  • Google Container-Optimized OS
  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Microsoft Azure
  • 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: 5.3

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

CVSSv2info

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

Exploitinginfo

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

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 271877
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-40065

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.17.3/6.18-rc1
Patch: d00b61cd37f4c183ce0edbc9f8ccf6d5430ea357/2b351e3d04be9e1533f26c3464f1e44a5beace30

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
10/28/2025 +195 days Advisory disclosed
10/28/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
02/15/2026 +110 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-40065 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-40065
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-330252
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2431 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 10/28/2025 14:42
Updated: 02/15/2026 21:49
Changes: 10/28/2025 14:42 (57), 10/29/2025 13:21 (2), 10/30/2025 06:49 (7), 11/24/2025 23:11 (1), 12/22/2025 02:00 (1), 02/08/2026 18:13 (1), 02/15/2026 21:49 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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