CVE-2025-68801: Linux kernel · mlxsw: spectrum_router: Fix neighbour use-after-free
Source GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in ed8141b206bdcfd5d0b92c90832eeb77b7a60a0a : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 4% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in ed8141b206bdcfd5d0b92c90832eeb77b7a60a0a, c437fbfd4382412598cdda1f8e2881b523668cc2, a2dfe6758fc63e542105bee8b17a3a7485684db0 +4
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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AI-suggested
A fix for this vulnerability has been implemented in the Linux kernel by correcting the reference counting in the mlxsw spectrum_router driver. Users should update to a kernel version that includes this patch.
Description
A use-after-free vulnerability was identified and resolved in the Linux kernel's mlxsw spectrum_router component. The issue arose because the driver stored a pointer to a neighbour object without properly holding a reference, leading to potential use-after-free when dereferencing that neighbour. The fix involved simplifying the reference counting scheme to always take a reference when storing a neighbour pointer, preventing premature freeing. This vulnerability was reproducible and tested extensively before the patch was applied.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-68801 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4a3c569005f42ab5e5b2ad637132a33bf102cc08 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/675c5aeadf6472672c472dc0f26401e4fcfbf254 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8b0e69763ef948fb872a7767df4be665d18f5fd4 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9e0a0d9eeb0dbeba2c83fa837885b19b8b9230fc (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a2dfe6758fc63e542105bee8b17a3a7485684db0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c437fbfd4382412598cdda1f8e2881b523668cc2 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ed8141b206bdcfd5d0b92c90832eeb77b7a60a0a (opens in a new tab)