CVE-2025-39853: Linux kernel · i40e: Fix potential invalid access when MAC list is empty
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · fixed in fb216d980fae6561c7c70af8ef826faf059c6515 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 5 Nov 2026, 21:35 UTC
Rated Medium by Threat Radar's AI analysis · No CVSS score from NVD or the CNA
Thin evidence
One scorer or none- CISA SSVC
- Exploitation
- No evidence of active exploitation and no public proof of concept
- Automatable
- Attackers cannot reliably automate steps 1–4 of the kill chain
- Technical impact
- Limited control over the software or limited information exposure
CISA SSVC assessment, 2026-11-05.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in fb216d980fae6561c7c70af8ef826faf059c6515, e2a5e74879f9b494bbd66fa93f355feacde450c7, a556f06338e1d5a85af0e32ecb46e365547f92b9 +5
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 19 Sep 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 5 Nov 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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AI-suggested
A fix is available and has been applied in the Linux kernel. Users should update to a fixed kernel version containing the patches identified by the commit hashes provided. No additional mitigation steps are indicated.
Description
CVE-2025-39853 is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's i40e driver where an invalid memory access can occur if the MAC list is empty. The issue arises because list_first_entry() returns a pointer to an invalid object when the list is empty, potentially leading to dereferencing invalid memory. The flaw has been fixed by replacing list_first_entry() with list_first_entry_or_null(), which safely returns NULL if the list is empty.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/971feafe157afac443027acdc235badc6838560b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c6fb929afa313d9d11f780451d113f73922fe5d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1eadabcf5623f1237a539b16586b4ed8ac8dffcd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e2a5e74879f9b494bbd66fa93f355feacde450c7 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/fb216d980fae6561c7c70af8ef826faf059c6515 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/66e7cdbda74ee823ec2bf7b830ebd235c54f5ddf (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9c21fc4cebd44dd21016c61261a683af390343f8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a556f06338e1d5a85af0e32ecb46e365547f92b9 (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/10/msg00008.html (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/10/msg00007.html (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-089022.html (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-032379.html (opens in a new tab)