Skip to main content
VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2025-38146: Linux kernel · net: openvswitch: Fix the dead loop of MPLS parse

Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database

0

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

CVSS 3.1 base score
9.4Critical
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
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:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 3 Jul 2025

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponised: 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 26 Oct 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
  • <6.8.0-100.100
Fixed in
  • 6.8.0-100.100
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.8.0-1046.49
Fixed in
  • 6.8.0-1046.49
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-aws-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.14.0-1013.13~24.04.1
Fixed in
  • 6.14.0-1013.13~24.04.1
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.8.0-1046.52
Fixed in
  • 6.8.0-1046.52
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • 6.11.0-1008.8~24.04.1 – 6.11.0-1018.18~24.04.1
7 affected builds
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

Community reviews

Loading reviews…