Linux Kernel up to 6.17.8 Netlink Message tcf_ife_dump uninitialized pointer

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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3.4$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 6.17.8. The affected element is the function tcf_ife_dump of the component Netlink Message Handler. The manipulation leads to uninitialized pointer. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-40278. No exploit exists. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.17.8. It has been rated as problematic. This issue affects the function tcf_ife_dump of the component Netlink Message Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a uninitialized pointer vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-824. The product accesses or uses a pointer that has not been initialized. Impacted is confidentiality. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: sched: act_ife: initialize struct tc_ife to fix KMSAN kernel-infoleak Fix a KMSAN kernel-infoleak detected by the syzbot . [net?] KMSAN: kernel-infoleak in __skb_datagram_iter In tcf_ife_dump(), the variable 'opt' was partially initialized using a designatied initializer. While the padding bytes are reamined uninitialized. nla_put() copies the entire structure into a netlink message, these uninitialized bytes leaked to userspace. Initialize the structure with memset before assigning its fields to ensure all members and padding are cleared prior to beign copied. This change silences the KMSAN report and prevents potential information leaks from the kernel memory. This fix has been tested and validated by syzbot. This patch closes the bug reported at the following syzkaller link and ensures no infoleak.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-40278 since 04/16/2025. The exploitation is known to be easy. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 278559 (Debian dla-4404 : ata-modules-5.10.0-35-armmp-di - security update), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.4.302, 5.10.247, 5.15.197, 6.1.159, 6.6.117, 6.12.59 or 6.17.9 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 918e063304f945fb93be9bb70cacea07d0b730ea/5e3644ef147bf7140259dfa4cace680c9b26fe8b/37f0680887c5aeba9a433fe04b35169010568bb1/2191662058443e0bcc28d11694293d8339af6dde/a676a296af65d33725bdf7396803180957dbd92e/d1dbbbe839647486c9b893e5011fe84a052962df/c8f51dad94cbb88054e2aacc272b3ce1ed11fb1e/ce50039be49eea9b4cd8873ca6eccded1b4a130a 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 (278559), EUVD (EUVD-2025-201577) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2756). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Affected

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

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 3.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 3.4

VulDB Base Score: 3.5
VulDB Temp Score: 3.4
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: Uninitialized pointer
CWE: CWE-824 / CWE-908
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: 278559
Nessus Name: Debian dla-4404 : ata-modules-5.10.0-35-armmp-di - security update

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.4.302/5.10.247/5.15.197/6.1.159/6.6.117/6.12.59/6.17.9
Patch: 918e063304f945fb93be9bb70cacea07d0b730ea/5e3644ef147bf7140259dfa4cace680c9b26fe8b/37f0680887c5aeba9a433fe04b35169010568bb1/2191662058443e0bcc28d11694293d8339af6dde/a676a296af65d33725bdf7396803180957dbd92e/d1dbbbe839647486c9b893e5011fe84a052962df/c8f51dad94cbb88054e2aacc272b3ce1ed11fb1e/ce50039be49eea9b4cd8873ca6eccded1b4a130a

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
12/07/2025 +235 days Advisory disclosed
12/07/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
02/23/2026 +78 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-40278 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-40278
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-334637
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2756 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service

Entryinfo

Created: 12/07/2025 08:56
Updated: 02/23/2026 04:59
Changes: 12/07/2025 08:56 (59), 12/07/2025 09:28 (1), 12/09/2025 08:12 (7), 12/13/2025 08:43 (2), 01/04/2026 12:38 (1), 01/22/2026 08:31 (1), 02/23/2026 04:59 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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