CVE-2025-40238

Kernel crash via stale mlx5 netdev dereference

Published Dec 4, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Linux kernel 6.7 through 6.12.55 and 6.13 through 6.17.5 allow local users to crash the kernel during mlx5 IPsec MPV teardown. The mlx5e_detach_netdev() path disables blocking-event handlers before unregistering devcom, so a later IPsec MPV event passes an invalid netdev to mlx5_devcom_comp_set_ready(). Triggering the fault requires local access and an mlx5 MPV/IPsec configuration; the demonstrated consequence is a kernel oops and host service interruption.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.20%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Linux kernel 6.7 through 6.12.55 and 6.13 through 6.17.5 allow local users to crash the kernel during mlx5 IPsec MPV teardown. The mlx5e_detach_netdev() path disables blocking-event handlers before unregistering devcom, so a later IPsec MPV event passes an invalid netdev to mlx5_devcom_comp_set_ready(). Triggering the fault requires local access and an mlx5 MPV/IPsec configuration; the demonstrated consequence is a kernel oops and host service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-40238
Published
Dec 4, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 4, 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

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=6.7
  2. Affected versionversion=82f9378c443c206d3f9e45844306e5270e7e4109 <664f76be38a18c61151d0ef248c7e2f3afb4f3c7
  3. Affected versionversion=82f9378c443c206d3f9e45844306e5270e7e4109 <7e212cebc863c2c7a82f480446cd731721451691
  4. Affected versionversion=82f9378c443c206d3f9e45844306e5270e7e4109 <8956686d398eca6d324d2d164f9d2a281175a3a1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.7; version=82f9378c443c206d3f9e45844306e5270e7e4109 <664f76be38a18c61151d0ef248c7e2f3afb4f3c7; version=82f9378c443c206d3f9e45844306e5270e7e4109 <7e212cebc863c2c7a82f480446cd731721451691; version=82f9378c443c206d3f9e45844306e5270e7e4109 <8956686d398eca6d324d2d164f9d2a281175a3a1

Published CVSS scores

5.5SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.0Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/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.

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

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

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo