CVE-2025-68801: Linux kernel · mlxsw: spectrum_router: Fix neighbour use-after-free
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, 13:47 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 5.15.0-1103.110~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1110.119~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1103.112~20.04.1 +70
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@6.17.0-22.22?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws@6.17.0-1012.12?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure@6.17.0-1013.13?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@6.17.0-1012.12?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle@6.17.0-1011.11?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
An official patch is available and should be applied to affected Linux kernel versions. The vulnerability has been fixed by updating the reference counting scheme in the mlxsw spectrum_router driver. Users should upgrade to kernel versions at or beyond the fixed releases to mitigate this issue. No additional mitigations are indicated by the vendor advisory.
Description
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's mlxsw spectrum_router component was identified and fixed. The issue involved improper reference counting of neighbour pointers, which could lead to dereferencing freed memory. This flaw was addressed by always taking a reference when storing a neighbour pointer, preventing use-after-free conditions. The vulnerability affects certain Linux kernel versions used in Azure environments and was assigned CVE-2025-68801 with a CVSS score of 7.8.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-68801 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-68801 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/8b0e69763ef948fb872a7767df4be665d18f5fd4 (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/c437fbfd4382412598cdda1f8e2881b523668cc2 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ed8141b206bdcfd5d0b92c90832eeb77b7a60a0a (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)