CVE-2025-21768: Linux kernel · net: ipv6: fix dst ref loops in rpl, seg6 and ioam6 lwtunnels
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 6.8.0-1035.37~22.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 16% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 6.8.0-1035.37~22.04.1, 6.8.0-1034.39~22.04.1, 6.8.0-1036.38~22.04.1 +29
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 27 Feb 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-nvidiapkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: ipv6: fix dst ref loops in rpl, seg6 and ioam6 lwtunnels Some lwtunnels have a dst cache for post-transformation dst. If the packet destination did not change we may end up recording a reference to the lwtunnel in its own cache, and the lwtunnel state will never be freed. Discovered by the ioam6.sh test, kmemleak was recently fixed to catch per-cpu memory leaks. I'm not sure if rpl and seg6 can actually hit this, but in principle I don't see why not.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-21768 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-21768 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/92191dd1073088753821b862b791dcc83e558e07 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4c0f200c7d06fedddde82209c099014d63f4a6c0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5ab11a4e219e93b8b31a27f8ec98d42afadd8b7a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/92191dd1073088753821b862b791dcc83e558e07 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7521-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7521-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7521-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7703-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7703-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7703-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7719-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7703-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7737-1 (opens in a new tab)