CVE-2025-39978: Linux kernel · octeontx2-pf: Fix potential use after free in otx2_tc_add_flow()
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in df2c071061ed52d2225d97b212d27ecedf456b8a : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 10 Nov 2026, 14:47 UTC
Thin evidence
One scorer or none| CNA (Linux) | CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 |
|---|
- 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
- Total control over the software or total information disclosure
CISA SSVC assessment, 2026-10-15.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in df2c071061ed52d2225d97b212d27ecedf456b8a, d9c70e93ec5988ab07ad2a92d9f9d12867f02c56, c41b2941a024d4ec7c768e16ffb10a74b188fced +2
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 15 Oct 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 10 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– |
AI-suggested
A fix is available and has been applied in specific Linux kernel commits. Users and administrators should update affected Linux kernel versions to the fixed releases to remediate this vulnerability. Since this is not a cloud service, manual patching is required.
Description
CVE-2025-39978 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's octeontx2-pf driver, specifically in the otx2_tc_add_flow() function. The flaw occurs because the code frees a node with kfree_rcu and then dereferences it afterward, which is unsafe. This issue has been fixed by reordering the code to perform dereferences before freeing the node. The vulnerability affects Linux kernel version 5.14 and has a high severity rating.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5723120423a753a220b8b2954b273838b9d7e74a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/df2c071061ed52d2225d97b212d27ecedf456b8a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c41b2941a024d4ec7c768e16ffb10a74b188fced (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a8a63f27c3a8a3714210d32b12fd0f16d0337414 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d9c70e93ec5988ab07ad2a92d9f9d12867f02c56 (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-019113.html (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-457936.html (opens in a new tab)