Linux Kernel up to 6.6.114/6.12.55/6.17.5 mlx5e bpf_xdp_adjust_tail 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 classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.114/6.12.55/6.17.5. This issue affects the function bpf_xdp_adjust_tail of the component mlx5e. This manipulation causes an unknown weakness. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-40350. There is no exploit available. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.114/6.12.55/6.17.5. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function bpf_xdp_adjust_tail of the component mlx5e. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/mlx5e: RX, Fix generating skb from non-linear xdp_buff for striding RQ XDP programs can change the layout of an xdp_buff through bpf_xdp_adjust_tail() and bpf_xdp_adjust_head(). Therefore, the driver cannot assume the size of the linear data area nor fragments. Fix the bug in mlx5 by generating skb according to xdp_buff after XDP programs run. Currently, when handling multi-buf XDP, the mlx5 driver assumes the layout of an xdp_buff to be unchanged. That is, the linear data area continues to be empty and fragments remain the same. This may cause the driver to generate erroneous skb or triggering a kernel warning. When an XDP program added linear data through bpf_xdp_adjust_head(), the linear data will be ignored as mlx5e_build_linear_skb() builds an skb without linear data and then pull data from fragments to fill the linear data area. When an XDP program has shrunk the non-linear data through bpf_xdp_adjust_tail(), the delta passed to __pskb_pull_tail() may exceed the actual nonlinear data size and trigger the BUG_ON in it. To fix the issue, first record the original number of fragments. If the number of fragments changes after the XDP program runs, rewind the end fragment pointer by the difference and recalculate the truesize. Then, build the skb with the linear data area matching the xdp_buff. Finally, only pull data in if there is non-linear data and fill the linear part up to 256 bytes.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-40350 since 04/16/2025. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 02/21/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 297793 (openSUSE 16 Security Update : kernel (openSUSE-SU-2026:20145-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.6.115, 6.12.56 or 6.17.6 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 8b051d7f530e8a5237da242fbeafef02fec6b813/cb9edd583e23979ee546981be963ad5f217e8b18/f2557d7fa38e9475b38588f5c124476091480f53/87bcef158ac1faca1bd7e0104588e8e2956d10be 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 (297793) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2868). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Affected

  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Open Source Linux Kernel

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: 297793
Nessus Name: openSUSE 16 Security Update : kernel (openSUSE-SU-2026:20145-1)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.6.115/6.12.56/6.17.6
Patch: 8b051d7f530e8a5237da242fbeafef02fec6b813/cb9edd583e23979ee546981be963ad5f217e8b18/f2557d7fa38e9475b38588f5c124476091480f53/87bcef158ac1faca1bd7e0104588e8e2956d10be

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
12/16/2025 +244 days Advisory disclosed
12/16/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
02/21/2026 +67 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-40350 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-40350
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-336769
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2868 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 12/16/2025 16:01
Updated: 02/21/2026 03:22
Changes: 12/16/2025 16:01 (58), 01/14/2026 01:43 (7), 01/19/2026 13:19 (1), 02/02/2026 12:46 (1), 02/04/2026 20:22 (2), 02/16/2026 10:48 (1), 02/21/2026 03:22 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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