CVE-2025-23163: Linux kernel · net: vlan: don't propagate flags on open
Source GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium.
Data as of 4 Nov 2026, 18:12 UTC
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 1 May 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: 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 4 Nov 2026.
What to do
AI-suggested
A fix for this vulnerability has been implemented in the Linux kernel by changing the propagation of allmulti/promiscuous flags to occur on flag changes rather than on device open, preventing the deadlock. Users should apply the official kernel updates containing this fix once available.
Description
CVE-2025-23163 is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's VLAN network device code where flags are propagated incorrectly during device open operations. This can cause a deadlock due to recursive locking of the device instance lock. The issue arises when VLAN devices propagate allmulti/promiscuous flags on open, leading to unsafe locking scenarios and potential system hangs. The vulnerability has been resolved by changing the propagation of these flags to occur on flag changes rather than on device open. The CVSS score is 5.5 (medium severity) with impact on availability due to possible deadlocks.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-23163 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/27b918007d96402aba10ed52a6af8015230f1793 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/299d7d27af6b5844cda06a0fdfa635705e1bc50f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/523fa0979d842443aa14b80002e45b471cbac137 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/538b43aa21e3b17c110104efd218b966d2eda5f8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/53fb25e90c0a503a17c639341ba5e755cb2feb5c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8980018a9806743d9b80837330d46f06ecf78516 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a32f1d4f1f4c9d978698f3c718621f6198f2e7ac (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b1e3eeb037256a2f1206a8d69810ec47eb152026 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d537859e56bcc3091805c524484a4c85386b3cc8 (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/05/msg00030.html (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/05/msg00045.html (opens in a new tab)