CVE-2025-37789

Kernel compromise via undersized nested Netlink attribute

Published May 1, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Memory corruption in affected Linux kernels allows local users to disclose or corrupt kernel memory via a crafted Open vSwitch Netlink action. In flow_netlink.c, the set-action validator calls nla_len() before confirming that the nested ovs_key contains a complete Netlink header, allowing key_len to underflow and drive out-of-bounds reads, memcpy, and memset. An unprivileged local user can obtain the required namespace-scoped CAP_NET_ADMIN permission, and triggering can disclose kernel memory, corrupt the kernel heap, or panic the system.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory corruption in affected Linux kernels allows local users to disclose or corrupt kernel memory via a crafted Open vSwitch Netlink action. In flow_netlink.c, the set-action validator calls nla_len() before confirming that the nested ovs_key contains a complete Netlink header, allowing key_len to underflow and drive out-of-bounds reads, memcpy, and memset. An unprivileged local user can obtain the required namespace-scoped CAP_NET_ADMIN permission, and triggering can disclose kernel memory, corrupt the kernel heap, or panic the system.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-37789
Published
May 1, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 1, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=3.3
  2. Affected versionversion=ccb1352e76cff0524e7ccb2074826a092dd13016 <03d7262dd53e8c404da35cc81aaa887fd901f76b
  3. Affected versionversion=ccb1352e76cff0524e7ccb2074826a092dd13016 <1489c195c8eecd262aa6712761ba5288203e28ec
  4. Affected versionversion=ccb1352e76cff0524e7ccb2074826a092dd13016 <54c6957d1123a2032099b9eab51c314800f677ce
  5. Affected versionversion=ccb1352e76cff0524e7ccb2074826a092dd13016 <65d91192aa66f05710cfddf6a14b5a25ee554dba
  6. Affected versionversion=ccb1352e76cff0524e7ccb2074826a092dd13016 <7fcaec0b2ab8fa5fbf0b45e5512364a168f445bd
  7. Affected versionversion=ccb1352e76cff0524e7ccb2074826a092dd13016 <824a7c2df5127b2402b68a21a265d413e78dcad7
  8. Affected versionversion=ccb1352e76cff0524e7ccb2074826a092dd13016 <a27526e6b48eee9e2d82efff502c4f272f1a91d4
  9. Affected versionversion=ccb1352e76cff0524e7ccb2074826a092dd13016 <be80768d4f3b6fd13f421451cc3fee8778aba8bc

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3.3; version=ccb1352e76cff0524e7ccb2074826a092dd13016 <03d7262dd53e8c404da35cc81aaa887fd901f76b; version=ccb1352e76cff0524e7ccb2074826a092dd13016 <1489c195c8eecd262aa6712761ba5288203e28ec; version=ccb1352e76cff0524e7ccb2074826a092dd13016 <54c6957d1123a2032099b9eab51c314800f677ce; version=ccb1352e76cff0524e7ccb2074826a092dd13016 <65d91192aa66f05710cfddf6a14b5a25ee554dba; version=ccb1352e76cff0524e7ccb2074826a092dd13016 <7fcaec0b2ab8fa5fbf0b45e5512364a168f445bd; version=ccb1352e76cff0524e7ccb2074826a092dd13016 <824a7c2df5127b2402b68a21a265d413e78dcad7; version=ccb1352e76cff0524e7ccb2074826a092dd13016 <a27526e6b48eee9e2d82efff502c4f272f1a91d4; version=ccb1352e76cff0524e7ccb2074826a092dd13016 <be80768d4f3b6fd13f421451cc3fee8778aba8bc

Published CVSS scores

7.8UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8UbuntuCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
7.8LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.1OracleCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:L

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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