CVE-2025-68325

Kernel crash via inconsistent CAKE queue accounting

Published Dec 18, 2025 · Updated Dec 18, 2025

Denial of service in the Linux kernel allows local users to cause a NULL dereference during packet enqueue through the CAKE scheduler. In sch_cake.c, cake_drop() reduces qdisc-tree queue length and backlog before cake_enqueue() learns that NET_XMIT_CN stopped the parent enqueue, leaving inconsistent accounting. Triggering the crash requires low local privileges and an affected kernel with the relevant CAKE hierarchy; no confidentiality or integrity impact is reported.

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

What happened

Denial of service in the Linux kernel allows local users to cause a NULL dereference during packet enqueue through the CAKE scheduler. In sch_cake.c, cake_drop() reduces qdisc-tree queue length and backlog before cake_enqueue() learns that NET_XMIT_CN stopped the parent enqueue, leaving inconsistent accounting. Triggering the crash requires low local privileges and an affected kernel with the relevant CAKE hierarchy; no confidentiality or integrity impact is reported.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-68325
Published
Dec 18, 2025
Updated
Dec 18, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 18, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 18, 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=0dacfc5372e314d1219f03e64dde3ab495a5a25e
  2. Affected versionversion=15de71d06a400f7fdc15bf377a2552b0ec437cf5 <3ed6c458530a547ed0c9ea0b02b19bab620be88b
  3. Affected versionversion=15de71d06a400f7fdc15bf377a2552b0ec437cf5 <529c284cc2815c8350860e9a31722050fe7117cb
  4. Affected versionversion=15de71d06a400f7fdc15bf377a2552b0ec437cf5 <9fefc78f7f02d71810776fdeb119a05a946a27cc
  5. Affected versionversion=6.17
  6. Affected versionversion=62d591dde4defb1333d202410609c4ddeae060b3
  7. Affected versionversion=710866fc0a64eafcb8bacd91bcb1329eb7e5035f
  8. Affected versionversion=7689ab22de36f8db19095f6bdf11f28cfde92f5c
  9. Affected versionversion=aa12ee1c1bd260943fd6ab556d8635811c332eeb
  10. Affected versionversion=de04ddd2980b48caa8d7e24a7db2742917a8b280
  11. Affected versionversion=ff57186b2cc39766672c4c0332323933e5faaa88 <0b6216f9b3d1c33c76f74511026e5de5385ee520

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=0dacfc5372e314d1219f03e64dde3ab495a5a25e; version=15de71d06a400f7fdc15bf377a2552b0ec437cf5 <3ed6c458530a547ed0c9ea0b02b19bab620be88b; version=15de71d06a400f7fdc15bf377a2552b0ec437cf5 <529c284cc2815c8350860e9a31722050fe7117cb; version=15de71d06a400f7fdc15bf377a2552b0ec437cf5 <9fefc78f7f02d71810776fdeb119a05a946a27cc; version=6.17; version=62d591dde4defb1333d202410609c4ddeae060b3; version=710866fc0a64eafcb8bacd91bcb1329eb7e5035f; version=7689ab22de36f8db19095f6bdf11f28cfde92f5c; version=aa12ee1c1bd260943fd6ab556d8635811c332eeb; version=de04ddd2980b48caa8d7e24a7db2742917a8b280; version=ff57186b2cc39766672c4c0332323933e5faaa88 <0b6216f9b3d1c33c76f74511026e5de5385ee520

Published CVSS scores

5.5Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
0.0Oracle LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:N
6.8SUSECVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

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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