CVE-2025-40350Network attack vector

Kernel warning via stale XDP buffer layout

Published Dec 16, 2025 · Updated Dec 16, 2025

A receive-path flaw in Linux 6.4 allows remote attackers to trigger a kernel warning through traffic handled by a layout-changing XDP program. After XDP adjusts a multi-buffer xdp_buff, mlx5e_build_linear_skb() wrongly reuses the original empty-linear-area and fragment layout, so added bytes are ignored or __pskb_pull_tail() receives an excessive delta. Exposure requires the mlx5e striding receive-queue path and an XDP program that changes the buffer head or tail; the bounded outcomes are an erroneous skb or a kernel BUG_ON warning.

CVSS severity6.4
Medium
EPSS probability0.54%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A receive-path flaw in Linux 6.4 allows remote attackers to trigger a kernel warning through traffic handled by a layout-changing XDP program. After XDP adjusts a multi-buffer xdp_buff, mlx5e_build_linear_skb() wrongly reuses the original empty-linear-area and fragment layout, so added bytes are ignored or __pskb_pull_tail() receives an excessive delta. Exposure requires the mlx5e striding receive-queue path and an XDP program that changes the buffer head or tail; the bounded outcomes are an erroneous skb or a kernel BUG_ON warning.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-40350
Published
Dec 16, 2025
Updated
Dec 16, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 16, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 16, 2025Record 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=f52ac7028bec22e925c8fece4f21641eb13b4d6f <87bcef158ac1faca1bd7e0104588e8e2956d10be
  3. Affected versionversion=f52ac7028bec22e925c8fece4f21641eb13b4d6f <8b051d7f530e8a5237da242fbeafef02fec6b813
  4. Affected versionversion=f52ac7028bec22e925c8fece4f21641eb13b4d6f <cb9edd583e23979ee546981be963ad5f217e8b18
  5. Affected versionversion=f52ac7028bec22e925c8fece4f21641eb13b4d6f <f2557d7fa38e9475b38588f5c124476091480f53

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.4; version=f52ac7028bec22e925c8fece4f21641eb13b4d6f <87bcef158ac1faca1bd7e0104588e8e2956d10be; version=f52ac7028bec22e925c8fece4f21641eb13b4d6f <8b051d7f530e8a5237da242fbeafef02fec6b813; version=f52ac7028bec22e925c8fece4f21641eb13b4d6f <cb9edd583e23979ee546981be963ad5f217e8b18; version=f52ac7028bec22e925c8fece4f21641eb13b4d6f <f2557d7fa38e9475b38588f5c124476091480f53

Published CVSS scores

7.0Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.4Oracle LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/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

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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