CVE-2025-38146: Linux kernel · net: openvswitch: Fix the dead loop of MPLS parse
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.4 Critical · fixed in 5.15.0-1092.99~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel as a priority.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.4% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 40% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1092.99~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1096.105~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1092.101~20.04.1 +59
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 3 Jul 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.
Patches and advisories
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7770-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7771-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7774-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7774-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7774-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7775-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7776-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7775-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7775-3 (opens in a new tab)
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | 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-aws-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14?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– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
An official fix is available and has been released by Ubuntu in multiple kernel package updates (see advisories USN-7769-1 and USN-7770-1). Users should promptly apply the relevant kernel updates for their distribution and hardware platform and reboot the system to activate the fixes. Due to ABI changes in the kernel, recompilation and reinstallation of any third-party kernel modules is necessary after updating. No additional mitigations are specified beyond applying the official patches.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's Open vSwitch component caused a dead loop during MPLS packet parsing when unexpected MPLS packets with many label stacks were processed, leading to CPU soft lockup. This issue was identified as CVE-2025-38146 and has been fixed in updated Linux kernel versions. The vulnerability has a high severity score of 9.4 and affects numerous specific kernel versions. Ubuntu has released official patches addressing this and other kernel vulnerabilities, requiring system updates and reboots to apply fixes.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-38146 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-38146 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/0bdc924bfb319fb10d1113cbf091fc26fb7b1f99 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0bdc924bfb319fb10d1113cbf091fc26fb7b1f99 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c1906a3d50cb94fd0a10e97a1c0a40c0f033cb7 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4b9a086eedc1fddae632310386098c12155e3d0a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/69541e58323ec3e3904e1fa87a6213961b1f52f4 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8ebcd311b4866ab911d1445ead08690e67f0c488 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ad17eb86d042d72a59fd184ad1adf34f5eb36843 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f26fe7c3002516dd3c288f1012786df31f4d89e0 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7770-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7771-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7774-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7774-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7774-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7775-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7776-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-3 (opens in a new tab)