CVE-2025-38568

Kernel memory corruption via mqprio index validation

Published Aug 19, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Out-of-bounds write in the Linux kernel mqprio parser from 6.4 allows local users with CAP_NET_ADMIN to corrupt kernel stack memory. The TCA_MQPRIO_TC_ENTRY_INDEX policy accepts index 16 and uses it to write four bytes past the 16-element fp[] array during traffic-control entry parsing. A crafted RTM_NEWQDISC netlink message on a multiqueue network device deterministically triggers the write, causing a kernel panic or oops and potentially damaging adjacent frame state.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.17%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds write in the Linux kernel mqprio parser from 6.4 allows local users with CAP_NET_ADMIN to corrupt kernel stack memory. The TCA_MQPRIO_TC_ENTRY_INDEX policy accepts index 16 and uses it to write four bytes past the 16-element fp[] array during traffic-control entry parsing. A crafted RTM_NEWQDISC netlink message on a multiqueue network device deterministically triggers the write, causing a kernel panic or oops and potentially damaging adjacent frame state.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38568
Published
Aug 19, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 19, 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=6.4
  2. Affected versionversion=f62af20bed2d9e824f51cfc97ff01bc261f40e58 <39491e859fd494d0b51adc5c7d54c8a7dcf1d198
  3. Affected versionversion=f62af20bed2d9e824f51cfc97ff01bc261f40e58 <66fc2ebdd9d5dd6e5a9c7edeace5a61a0ab2cd86
  4. Affected versionversion=f62af20bed2d9e824f51cfc97ff01bc261f40e58 <d00e4125680f7074c4f42ce3c297336f23128e70
  5. Affected versionversion=f62af20bed2d9e824f51cfc97ff01bc261f40e58 <f1a9dbcb7d17bf0abb325cdc984957cfabc59693
  6. Affected versionversion=f62af20bed2d9e824f51cfc97ff01bc261f40e58 <ffd2dc4c6c49ff4f1e5d34e454a6a55608104c17

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.4; version=f62af20bed2d9e824f51cfc97ff01bc261f40e58 <39491e859fd494d0b51adc5c7d54c8a7dcf1d198; version=f62af20bed2d9e824f51cfc97ff01bc261f40e58 <66fc2ebdd9d5dd6e5a9c7edeace5a61a0ab2cd86; version=f62af20bed2d9e824f51cfc97ff01bc261f40e58 <d00e4125680f7074c4f42ce3c297336f23128e70; version=f62af20bed2d9e824f51cfc97ff01bc261f40e58 <f1a9dbcb7d17bf0abb325cdc984957cfabc59693; version=f62af20bed2d9e824f51cfc97ff01bc261f40e58 <ffd2dc4c6c49ff4f1e5d34e454a6a55608104c17

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux Kernel CVE TeamCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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