CVE-2025-38551: Linux kernel · virtio-net: fix recursived rtnl_lock() during probe()
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 6.8.0-1046.49~22.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 1% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 6.8.0-1046.49~22.04.1, 6.8.0-1051.57~22.04.1, 6.8.0-1047.50~22.04.2 +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 16 Aug 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-7879-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7879-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7880-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7879-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7879-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7934-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8031-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-5 (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.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: virtio-net: fix recursived rtnl_lock() during probe() The deadlock appears in a stack trace like: virtnet_probe() rtnl_lock() virtio_config_changed_work() netdev_notify_peers() rtnl_lock() It happens if the VMM sends a VIRTIO_NET_S_ANNOUNCE request while the virtio-net driver is still probing. The config_work in probe() will get scheduled until virtnet_open() enables the config change notification via virtio_config_driver_enable().
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-38551 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-38551 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/be5dcaed694e4255dc02dd0acfe036708c535def (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3859f137b3c1fa1f0031d54263234566bdcdd7aa (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4e7c46362550b229354aeb52038f414e231b0037 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/be5dcaed694e4255dc02dd0acfe036708c535def (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7879-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7879-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7880-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7879-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7879-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7934-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8031-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8031-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-6 (opens in a new tab)