CVE-2025-68795: Linux kernel · ethtool: Avoid overflowing userspace buffer on stats query
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 5.15.0-1103.110~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 16:39 UTC
- 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 5.15.0-1103.110~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1110.119~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1103.112~20.04.1 +74
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 13 Jan 2026
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?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle?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 to prevent userspace buffer overflow during ethtool statistics queries. The patch causes ethtool to return zero stats if a size mismatch is detected, avoiding overflow without causing errors in userspace. Users should update to fixed kernel versions as per vendor advisories. No additional user action is required beyond applying the official fix.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ethtool utility could lead to a userspace buffer overflow during statistics queries if the number of stats changes between ioctl calls. This occurs because userspace allocates buffers based on an initial size query, which may become outdated if device stats are dynamically reconfigured. The issue affects drivers using dynamic counters and can cause transient incorrect or zeroed stats output. A patch has been released to prevent buffer overflow by returning zero stats when a size mismatch is detected, improving stability without causing errors in userspace applications.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-68795 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-68795 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/7b07be1ff1cb6c49869910518650e8d0abc7d25f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4066b5b546293f44cd6d0e84ece6e3ee7ff27093 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4afcb985355210e1688560dc47e64b94dad35d71 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7b07be1ff1cb6c49869910518650e8d0abc7d25f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7bea09f60f2ad5d232e2db8f1c14e850fd3fd416 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ca9983bc3a1189bd72f9ae449d925a66b2616326 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8096-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8096-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8096-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8096-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8116-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8096-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8141-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8163-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8163-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8177-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8179-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8177-2 (opens in a new tab)