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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2025-68795: Linux kernel · ethtool: Avoid overflowing userspace buffer on stats query

Source GCVE Database

0
Authoritative record:CVE-2025-68795· High 7.8

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in f9dc0f45d2cd0189ce666288a29d2cc32c2e44d5 : patch Linux kernel soon.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
7.8High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
EPSS
0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 6% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Patch
Available – fixed in f9dc0f45d2cd0189ce666288a29d2cc32c2e44d5, ca9983bc3a1189bd72f9ae449d925a66b2616326, 4066b5b546293f44cd6d0e84ece6e3ee7ff27093 +4
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 13 Jan 2026

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponised: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq 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

ProductAffectedFixed in
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, < f9dc0f45d2cd0189ce666288a29d2cc32c2e44d5
Fixed in
  • f9dc0f45d2cd0189ce666288a29d2cc32c2e44d5
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, < ca9983bc3a1189bd72f9ae449d925a66b2616326
Fixed in
  • ca9983bc3a1189bd72f9ae449d925a66b2616326
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, < 4066b5b546293f44cd6d0e84ece6e3ee7ff27093
Fixed in
  • 4066b5b546293f44cd6d0e84ece6e3ee7ff27093
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, < 7bea09f60f2ad5d232e2db8f1c14e850fd3fd416
Fixed in
  • 7bea09f60f2ad5d232e2db8f1c14e850fd3fd416
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, < 7b07be1ff1cb6c49869910518650e8d0abc7d25f
Fixed in
  • 7b07be1ff1cb6c49869910518650e8d0abc7d25f
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, < 4afcb985355210e1688560dc47e64b94dad35d71
Fixed in
  • 4afcb985355210e1688560dc47e64b94dad35d71

AI-suggested

A fix has been implemented in the Linux kernel ethtool code to prevent userspace buffer overflow by returning zero stats when a size mismatch is detected during stats queries. This fix does not eliminate the underlying race condition but prevents overflow and improves behavior predictability. Users should update to a Linux kernel version that includes this patch once available. Until then, be aware that transient no-output or zeroed stats may occur during ethtool -S queries but this is preferable to buffer overflow. Monitor vendor advisories for the official patch release and apply it promptly.

Description

A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ethtool utility could cause a userspace buffer overflow during statistics queries if the number of stats changes between ioctl calls. This occurs because ethtool's -S command uses multiple ioctl calls to retrieve stats size, names, and values, and dynamic stat counters in some drivers can cause mismatches leading to incorrect buffer allocation. The issue has been addressed by modifying ethtool functions to return zero stats when a size mismatch is detected, preventing buffer overflow and resulting in either no stats output or all-zero stats temporarily. This fix does not eliminate the underlying race condition but prevents overflow and improves behavior predictability.

References

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