Linux Kernel up to 6.6.111/6.12.52/6.17.2 bpf check_alu_op privilege escalation

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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4.4$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.111/6.12.52/6.17.2. Affected by this issue is the function check_alu_op of the component bpf. The manipulation results in an unknown weakness. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2025-40169. There is no exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.111/6.12.52/6.17.2. It has been classified as critical. Affected is the function check_alu_op of the component bpf. The impact remains unknown. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Reject negative offsets for ALU ops When verifying BPF programs, the check_alu_op() function validates instructions with ALU operations. The 'offset' field in these instructions is a signed 16-bit integer. The existing check 'insn->off > 1' was intended to ensure the offset is either 0, or 1 for BPF_MOD/BPF_DIV. However, because 'insn->off' is signed, this check incorrectly accepts all negative values (e.g., -1). This commit tightens the validation by changing the condition to '(insn->off != 0 && insn->off != 1)'. This ensures that any value other than the explicitly permitted 0 and 1 is rejected, hardening the verifier against malformed BPF programs.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2025-40169 since 04/16/2025. The exploitability is told to be difficult. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 275237 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-40169), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.6.112, 6.12.53, 6.17.3 or 6.18-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 3bce44b344040e5eef3d64d38b157c15304c0aab/5017c302ca4b2a45149ad64e058fa2d5623c068f/21167bf70dbe400563e189ac632258d35eda38b5/55c0ced59fe17dee34e9dfd5f7be63cbab207758 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 (275237) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2579). 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

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.4

VulDB Base Score: 4.6
VulDB Temp Score: 4.4
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: 275237
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-40169

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.6.112/6.12.53/6.17.3/6.18-rc1
Patch: 3bce44b344040e5eef3d64d38b157c15304c0aab/5017c302ca4b2a45149ad64e058fa2d5623c068f/21167bf70dbe400563e189ac632258d35eda38b5/55c0ced59fe17dee34e9dfd5f7be63cbab207758

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
11/12/2025 +210 days Advisory disclosed
11/12/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
02/08/2026 +88 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-40169 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-40169
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-332124
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2579 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 11/12/2025 13:26
Updated: 02/08/2026 13:47
Changes: 11/12/2025 13:26 (58), 11/13/2025 11:27 (2), 12/21/2025 04:02 (7), 12/30/2025 21:50 (1), 02/08/2026 13:47 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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