CVE-2025-68245: Linux kernel · net: netpoll: fix incorrect refcount handling causing incorrect cleanup
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · fixed in 5.15.0-1103.110~20.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 12:55 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · No CVSS score from NVD or the CNA
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 9% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1103.110~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1110.119~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1103.112~20.04.1 +65
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 16 Dec 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.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux@6.17.0-14.14?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws@6.17.0-1007.7?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure@6.17.0-1008.8?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde@6.17.0-1017.17?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp@6.17.0-1007.7?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle@6.17.0-1007.7?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A patch is available and should be applied to affected Linux kernel versions. The vendor advisory from Ubuntu confirms that this issue is fixed in updated kernel releases. Users should update to the fixed kernel versions to resolve this vulnerability.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's netpoll subsystem was fixed by correcting improper reference count handling during netpoll cleanup. The issue caused premature nullification of a shared pointer, leading to memory leaks and improper cleanup behavior when multiple netpoll instances were associated with the same network interface. This flaw was addressed by reverting a previous commit and ensuring cleanup occurs only when the reference count reaches zero.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-68245 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-68245 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/49c8d2c1f94cc2f4d1a108530d7ba52614b874c2 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/49c8d2c1f94cc2f4d1a108530d7ba52614b874c2 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4afd4ebbad52aa146838ec23082ba393e426a2bb (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/890472d6fbf062e6de7fdd56642cb305ab79d669 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8e6a50edad11e3e1426e4c29e7aa6201f3468ac2 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9a51b5ccd1c79afec1c03a4e1e6688da52597556 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9b0bb18b4b9dc017c1825a2c5e763615e34a1593 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c645693180a98606c430825223d2029315d85e9d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c79a6d9da29219616b118a3adce9a14cd30f9bd0 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8029-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8030-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8029-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8048-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8029-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8095-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8096-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8100-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8095-2 (opens in a new tab)