Linux Kernel up to 6.17.7 usbnet free_netdev privilege escalation

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.17.7. Impacted is the function free_netdev of the component usbnet. Such manipulation leads to an unknown weakness. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2025-68312. There is not any exploit available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.17.7. Affected by this issue is the function free_netdev of the component usbnet. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: usbnet: Prevents free active kevent The root cause of this issue are: 1. When probing the usbnet device, executing usbnet_link_change(dev, 0, 0); put the kevent work in global workqueue. However, the kevent has not yet been scheduled when the usbnet device is unregistered. Therefore, executing free_netdev() results in the "free active object (kevent)" error reported here. 2. Another factor is that when calling usbnet_disconnect()->unregister_netdev(), if the usbnet device is up, ndo_stop() is executed to cancel the kevent. However, because the device is not up, ndo_stop() is not executed. The solution to this problem is to cancel the kevent before executing free_netdev().

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2025-68312 since 12/16/2025. 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 05/24/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 298384 (Oracle Linux 8 : Unbreakable Enterprise kernel (ELSA-2026-50100)), 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, 6.12.58 or 6.17.8 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 285d4b953f2ca03c358f986718dd89ee9bde632e/88a38b135d69f5db9024ff6527232f1b51be8915/43005002b60ef3424719ecda16d124714b45da3b/3a10619fdefd3051aeb14860e4d4335529b4e94d/9a579d6a39513069d298eee70770bbac8a148565/2ce1de32e05445d77fc056f6ff8339cfb78a5f84/5158fb8da162e3982940f30cd01ed77bdf42c6fc/420c84c330d1688b8c764479e5738bbdbf0a33de 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 (298384), EUVD (EUVD-2025-203757) 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: 8.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.6

VulDB Base Score: 8.0
VulDB Temp Score: 7.6
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: 298384
Nessus Name: Oracle Linux 8 : Unbreakable Enterprise kernel (ELSA-2026-50100)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.4.302/5.10.247/5.15.197/6.1.159/6.6.117/6.12.58/6.17.8
Patch: 285d4b953f2ca03c358f986718dd89ee9bde632e/88a38b135d69f5db9024ff6527232f1b51be8915/43005002b60ef3424719ecda16d124714b45da3b/3a10619fdefd3051aeb14860e4d4335529b4e94d/9a579d6a39513069d298eee70770bbac8a148565/2ce1de32e05445d77fc056f6ff8339cfb78a5f84/5158fb8da162e3982940f30cd01ed77bdf42c6fc/420c84c330d1688b8c764479e5738bbdbf0a33de

Timelineinfo

12/16/2025 Advisory disclosed
12/16/2025 +0 days CVE reserved
12/16/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
05/24/2026 +159 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-68312 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-68312
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-336836
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2868 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 12/16/2025 17:44
Updated: 05/24/2026 21:29
Changes: 12/16/2025 17:44 (58), 02/09/2026 20:20 (2), 02/22/2026 09:11 (7), 05/24/2026 21:29 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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