CVE-2025-40123: Linux kernel · bpf: Enforce expected_attach_type for tailcall compatibility
Source GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 12:29 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 5% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
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 12 Nov 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
AI-suggested
A fix for this vulnerability has been implemented in the Linux kernel by enforcing expected_attach_type checks for tailcall maps in the BPF subsystem. Users and administrators should apply the official Linux kernel updates that include this patch. Since this is a kernel-level issue, upgrading to a patched kernel version is the recommended mitigation. Patch status is not explicitly stated in the provided data; therefore, check the vendor or Linux kernel advisory for the exact fixed versions and update accordingly.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's BPF subsystem involving tailcall compatibility and enforcement of expected_attach_type has been resolved. The issue arises from an uninitialized pointer in the bpf_prog_test_run_xdp() function, leading to a NULL pointer dereference when accessing the txq member of the xdp_buff structure. The flaw involves improper enforcement of expected_attach_type constraints during tailcalls between BPF programs, potentially allowing invalid access patterns. The fix enforces expected_attach_type checks in __bpf_prog_map_compatible() for tailcall maps to prevent violations. This vulnerability affects the kernel's BPF subsystem and related program types that rely on expected_attach_type for access control.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-40123 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/08cb3dc9d2b44f153d0bcf2cb966e4a94b5d0f32 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4540aed51b12bc13364149bf95f6ecef013197c0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a99de19128aec0913f3d529f529fbbff5edfaff8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c1ad19b5d8e23123503dcaf2d4342e1b90b923ad (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f856c598080ba7ce1252867b8ecd6ad5bdaf9a6a (opens in a new tab)