Linux Kernel up to 6.17.2 ipv6 ip6_output use after free

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.
7.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Linux Kernel up to 6.17.2. Impacted is the function ip6_output of the component ipv6. The manipulation results in use after free. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2025-40158. No exploit exists. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.17.2. Affected is the function ip6_output of the component ipv6. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipv6: use RCU in ip6_output() Use RCU in ip6_output() in order to use dst_dev_rcu() to prevent possible UAF. We can remove rcu_read_lock()/rcu_read_unlock() pairs from ip6_finish_output2().

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2025-40158 since 04/16/2025. The exploitability is told to be easy. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 02/08/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 279677 (openSUSE 16 Security Update : kernel (openSUSE-SU-2025:20172-1)), 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 0393f85c3241c19ba8550f04a812e7d19f6b3082/11709573cc4e48dc34c80fc7ab9ce5b159e29695 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 (279677) 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: 8.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.6

VulDB Base Score: 8.0
VulDB Temp Score: 7.6
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Use after free
CWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
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: 279677
Nessus Name: openSUSE 16 Security Update : kernel (openSUSE-SU-2025:20172-1)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.17.3/6.18-rc1
Patch: 0393f85c3241c19ba8550f04a812e7d19f6b3082/11709573cc4e48dc34c80fc7ab9ce5b159e29695

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-2025-40158 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-40158
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-332172
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2579 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 11/12/2025 13:37
Updated: 02/08/2026 10:11
Changes: 11/12/2025 13:37 (59), 12/21/2025 02:51 (7), 12/25/2025 05:32 (2), 12/30/2025 21:43 (1), 02/08/2026 10:11 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Do you know our Splunk app?

Download it now for free!