CVE-2025-39853: Linux kernel · i40e: Fix potential invalid access when MAC list is empty
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.1 High · fixed in 5.15.0-1097.104~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 10:12 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 5% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1097.104~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1102.111~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1097.106~20.04.1 +56
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 19 Sep 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.
Patches and advisories
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7910-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7910-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7933-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7938-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8095-1 (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)
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-aws-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: i40e: Fix potential invalid access when MAC list is empty list_first_entry() never returns NULL - if the list is empty, it still returns a pointer to an invalid object, leading to potential invalid memory access when dereferenced. Fix this by using list_first_entry_or_null instead of list_first_entry.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-39853 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-39853 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/a556f06338e1d5a85af0e32ecb46e365547f92b9 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1eadabcf5623f1237a539b16586b4ed8ac8dffcd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c6fb929afa313d9d11f780451d113f73922fe5d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/66e7cdbda74ee823ec2bf7b830ebd235c54f5ddf (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/971feafe157afac443027acdc235badc6838560b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9c21fc4cebd44dd21016c61261a683af390343f8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a556f06338e1d5a85af0e32ecb46e365547f92b9 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e2a5e74879f9b494bbd66fa93f355feacde450c7 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/fb216d980fae6561c7c70af8ef826faf059c6515 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7910-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7910-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7933-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7938-1 (opens in a new tab)