Linux Kernel up to 6.17.5 hung_task encoding error

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

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Linux Kernel up to 6.17.5. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the component hung_task. Executing a manipulation can lead to encoding error. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2025-68250. No exploit is available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.17.5 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects an unknown functionality of the component hung_task. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a encoding error vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-172. The product does not properly encode or decode the data, resulting in unexpected values. The impact remains unknown. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: hung_task: fix warnings caused by unaligned lock pointers The blocker tracking mechanism assumes that lock pointers are at least 4-byte aligned to use their lower bits for type encoding. However, as reported by Eero Tamminen, some architectures like m68k only guarantee 2-byte alignment of 32-bit values. This breaks the assumption and causes two related WARN_ON_ONCE checks to trigger. To fix this, the runtime checks are adjusted to silently ignore any lock that is not 4-byte aligned, effectively disabling the feature in such cases and avoiding the related warnings. Thanks to Geert Uytterhoeven for bisecting!

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-68250 since 12/16/2025. 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 02/22/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 279027 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-68250), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.17.6 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch c0e2dcbe54cb15ecdf9d8f4501c6720423243888/c97513cddcfc235f2522617980838e500af21d01 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 (279027), EUVD (EUVD-2025-203646) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2868). Once again VulDB remains the best source for 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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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Encoding error
CWE: CWE-172
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: 279027
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-68250

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.17.6
Patch: c0e2dcbe54cb15ecdf9d8f4501c6720423243888/c97513cddcfc235f2522617980838e500af21d01

Timelineinfo

12/16/2025 Advisory disclosed
12/16/2025 +0 days CVE reserved
12/16/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
02/22/2026 +68 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-68250 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-68250
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-336820
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2868 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 12/16/2025 16:12
Updated: 02/22/2026 03:01
Changes: 12/16/2025 16:12 (18), 12/16/2025 16:13 (40), 12/16/2025 16:54 (1), 12/18/2025 07:18 (2), 01/20/2026 04:11 (7), 02/03/2026 17:30 (1), 02/22/2026 03:01 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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