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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2025-37890: Linux kernel · net_sched: hfsc: Fix a UAF vulnerability in class with netem as child qdisc

Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database

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Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 5.4.0-1148.158~18.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.

Data as of 3 Nov 2026, 17:38 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
7.8High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
Patch
Available – fixed in 5.4.0-1148.158~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1153.160~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1151.160~18.04.1 +90
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 16 May 2025

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponized: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq 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 3 Nov 2026.

What to do

Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=questingOther threatsAffected
  • 6.17.0-1003.3 – 6.17.0-1017.17
10 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.8.0-63.66
Fixed in
  • 6.8.0-63.66
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.8.0-1031.33
Fixed in
  • 6.8.0-1031.33
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-aws-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.14.0-1009.9~24.04.1
Fixed in
  • 6.14.0-1009.9~24.04.1
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.8.0-1031.36
Fixed in
  • 6.8.0-1031.36
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.11.0-1018.18~24.04.1
Fixed in
  • 6.11.0-1018.18~24.04.1

Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.

AI-suggested

A patch is available and has been released by Ubuntu in multiple Linux kernel package versions. Users should update their systems to the fixed kernel versions listed in the Ubuntu security notices (e.g., 5.4.0-1148.158~18.04.1 and later). After updating, a system reboot is required to apply the changes. Due to ABI changes, recompilation and reinstallation of all third-party kernel modules are necessary. No other mitigations are specified or required beyond applying the official fixes.

Description

A use-after-free (UAF) vulnerability was identified and fixed in the Linux kernel's net_sched subsystem, specifically in the hfsc class when it has a netem child qdisc. The issue arises because the hfsc class incorrectly assumes that a check on the child qdisc's queue length guarantees it hasn't been inserted twice in internal trees, which is not true for netem duplicates. This flaw could lead to memory corruption. The vulnerability is addressed by adding a check on the n_active class variable to prevent double insertion. Multiple Linux kernel versions are affected, and fixes have been released in updated kernel packages.

References

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