CVE-2025-39915

Kernel hang via inverted phylink lock order

Published Oct 1, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Improper locking in Linux 6.14 through 6.16.7 allows local users to hang the kernel during concurrent phylink state changes. phy_config_inband() acquires phydev->lock beneath state_mutex, reversing the order used by phylink_phy_change() and creating an AB/BA deadlock. Reachability requires a PHY using in-band configuration and overlap between phylink_resolve() and phy_link_up() or phy_link_down(); the consequence is an availability-only deadlock.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.10%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper locking in Linux 6.14 through 6.16.7 allows local users to hang the kernel during concurrent phylink state changes. phy_config_inband() acquires phydev->lock beneath state_mutex, reversing the order used by phylink_phy_change() and creating an AB/BA deadlock. Reachability requires a PHY using in-band configuration and overlap between phylink_resolve() and phy_link_up() or phy_link_down(); the consequence is an availability-only deadlock.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-39915
Published
Oct 1, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-667, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 1, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 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=5fd0f1a02e750e2db4038dee60edea669ce5aab1 <052ac41c379c8b87629808be612a482b2d0ae283
  2. Affected versionversion=5fd0f1a02e750e2db4038dee60edea669ce5aab1 <e2a10daba84968f6b5777d150985fd7d6abc9c84
  3. Affected versionversion=6.14

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5fd0f1a02e750e2db4038dee60edea669ce5aab1 <052ac41c379c8b87629808be612a482b2d0ae283; version=5fd0f1a02e750e2db4038dee60edea669ce5aab1 <e2a10daba84968f6b5777d150985fd7d6abc9c84; version=6.14

Published CVSS scores

5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5CISA ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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

CWE-667Improper Locking
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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