CVE-2025-38640

Local service interruption via unpinned BPF execution

Published Aug 22, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

A BPF netfilter flaw in Linux allows local users to interrupt service by transmitting through a vulnerable netfilter BPF hook. The nf_hook_run_bpf() function calls bpf_prog_run() without pinning execution to a CPU, so migration remains enabled and __bpf_prog_run() raises its non-migratable-context assertion. Reachability requires a netfilter BPF program on the transmit path and local low-privileged access; the documented result is a kernel splat and service interruption.

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

A BPF netfilter flaw in Linux allows local users to interrupt service by transmitting through a vulnerable netfilter BPF hook. The nf_hook_run_bpf() function calls bpf_prog_run() without pinning execution to a CPU, so migration remains enabled and __bpf_prog_run() raises its non-migratable-context assertion. Reachability requires a netfilter BPF program on the transmit path and local low-privileged access; the documented result is a kernel splat and service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38640
Published
Aug 22, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 22, 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=fd9c663b9ad67dedfc9a3fd3429ddd3e83782b4d <0a356da16fb933abbeeb7aea038c351f3342cd3f
  3. Affected versionversion=fd9c663b9ad67dedfc9a3fd3429ddd3e83782b4d <17ce3e5949bc37557305ad46316f41c7875d6366
  4. Affected versionversion=fd9c663b9ad67dedfc9a3fd3429ddd3e83782b4d <62f6175d145e00fc999fd2fcbffad3f59253c66a
  5. Affected versionversion=fd9c663b9ad67dedfc9a3fd3429ddd3e83782b4d <e0199c28167a8a4adec036005a8df268b2b68529
  6. Affected versionversion=fd9c663b9ad67dedfc9a3fd3429ddd3e83782b4d <ee2502485702e4398cd74dbfb288bfa111d25e62

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.4; version=fd9c663b9ad67dedfc9a3fd3429ddd3e83782b4d <0a356da16fb933abbeeb7aea038c351f3342cd3f; version=fd9c663b9ad67dedfc9a3fd3429ddd3e83782b4d <17ce3e5949bc37557305ad46316f41c7875d6366; version=fd9c663b9ad67dedfc9a3fd3429ddd3e83782b4d <62f6175d145e00fc999fd2fcbffad3f59253c66a; version=fd9c663b9ad67dedfc9a3fd3429ddd3e83782b4d <e0199c28167a8a4adec036005a8df268b2b68529; version=fd9c663b9ad67dedfc9a3fd3429ddd3e83782b4d <ee2502485702e4398cd74dbfb288bfa111d25e62

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.8Linux kernel CNACVSS: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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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