CVE-2025-40168Network attack vector

Kernel memory compromise via stale SMC device dereference

Published Nov 12, 2025 · Updated Sep 2, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel's SMC listener allows remote attackers to compromise kernel memory through a crafted CLC Proposal. The smc_clc_prfx_match() path dereferences sk_dst_get(sk)->dev outside RCU and RTNL protection while parsing the peer-controlled proposal. Exploitation requires an AF_SMC listener and concurrent network-device teardown; success enables kernel-memory disclosure, modification, or a system crash.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability0.39%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel's SMC listener allows remote attackers to compromise kernel memory through a crafted CLC Proposal. The smc_clc_prfx_match() path dereferences sk_dst_get(sk)->dev outside RCU and RTNL protection while parsing the peer-controlled proposal. Exploitation requires an AF_SMC listener and concurrent network-device teardown; success enables kernel-memory disclosure, modification, or a system crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-40168
Published
Nov 12, 2025
Updated
Sep 2, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 12, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 2, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=4.11
  2. Affected versionversion=a046d57da19f812216f393e7c535f5858f793ac3 <235f81045c008169cc4e1955b4a64e118eebe61b
  3. Affected versionversion=a046d57da19f812216f393e7c535f5858f793ac3 <326e5cf301d0bec0a672aa834d8254c4f9df6255
  4. Affected versionversion=a046d57da19f812216f393e7c535f5858f793ac3 <3f119c37aa293af41400cccb3d89fab8dcf774b0
  5. Affected versionversion=a046d57da19f812216f393e7c535f5858f793ac3 <4f5f52a5842937f945582a93cb9daed9ea526fee
  6. Affected versionversion=a046d57da19f812216f393e7c535f5858f793ac3 <d26e80f7fb62d77757b67a1b94e4ac756bc9c658

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.11; version=a046d57da19f812216f393e7c535f5858f793ac3 <235f81045c008169cc4e1955b4a64e118eebe61b; version=a046d57da19f812216f393e7c535f5858f793ac3 <326e5cf301d0bec0a672aa834d8254c4f9df6255; version=a046d57da19f812216f393e7c535f5858f793ac3 <3f119c37aa293af41400cccb3d89fab8dcf774b0; version=a046d57da19f812216f393e7c535f5858f793ac3 <4f5f52a5842937f945582a93cb9daed9ea526fee; version=a046d57da19f812216f393e7c535f5858f793ac3 <d26e80f7fb62d77757b67a1b94e4ac756bc9c658

Published CVSS scores

5.8SUSECVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
6.3Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
8.1Linux kernel CNACVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.3SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

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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