Linux Kernel up to 6.17.12/6.18.1 netpoll kernel/workqueue.c __netpoll_setup uninitialized pointer

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as critical has been reported in Linux Kernel up to 6.17.12/6.18.1. Affected is the function __netpoll_setup of the file kernel/workqueue.c of the component netpoll. Performing a manipulation results in uninitialized pointer. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-68762. No exploit is available. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.17.12/6.18.1. This affects the function __netpoll_setup of the file kernel/workqueue.c of the component netpoll. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a uninitialized pointer vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-824. The product accesses or uses a pointer that has not been initialized. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: netpoll: initialize work queue before error checks Prevent a kernel warning when netconsole setup fails on devices with IFF_DISABLE_NETPOLL flag. The warning (at kernel/workqueue.c:4242 in __flush_work) occurs because the cleanup path tries to cancel an uninitialized work queue. When __netpoll_setup() encounters a device with IFF_DISABLE_NETPOLL, it fails early and calls skb_pool_flush() for cleanup. This function calls cancel_work_sync(&np->refill_wq), but refill_wq hasn't been initialized yet, triggering the warning. Move INIT_WORK() to the beginning of __netpoll_setup(), ensuring the work queue is properly initialized before any potential failure points. This allows the cleanup path to safely cancel the work queue regardless of where the setup fails.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-68762 since 12/24/2025. 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 01/08/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 281907 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-68762), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.17.13, 6.18.2 or 6.19-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch a90d0dc38a10347078cca60e7495ad0648838f18/760bc6ceda8e2c273c0e2018ad2595967c3dd308/e5235eb6cfe02a51256013a78f7b28779a7740d5 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 (281907) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-0009). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Affected

• Microsoft Azure Linux
• Open Source Linux Kernel

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.17.0
• 6.17.1
• 6.17.2
• 6.17.3
• 6.17.4
• 6.17.5
• 6.17.6
• 6.17.7
• 6.17.8
• 6.17.9
• 6.17.10
• 6.17.11
• 6.17.12
• 6.18.0
• 6.18.1

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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Entryinfo

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

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