CVE-2025-40173: Linux kernel · net/ip6_tunnel: Prevent perpetual tunnel growth
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 5.15.0-1100.107~20.04.2 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 10:12 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 5.15.0-1100.107~20.04.2, 5.15.0-1110.119~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1100.109~20.04.1 +67
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 12 Nov 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.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux@6.17.0-14.14?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws@6.17.0-1007.7?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure@6.17.0-1008.8?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@6.17.0-1007.7?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle@6.17.0-1007.7?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.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/ip6_tunnel: Prevent perpetual tunnel growth Similarly to ipv4 tunnel, ipv6 version updates dev->needed_headroom, too. While ipv4 tunnel headroom adjustment growth was limited in commit 5ae1e9922bbd ("net: ip_tunnel: prevent perpetual headroom growth"), ipv6 tunnel yet increases the headroom without any ceiling. Reflect ipv4 tunnel headroom adjustment limit on ipv6 version. Credits to Francesco Ruggeri, who was originally debugging this issue and wrote local Arista-specific patch and a reproducer.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-40173 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-40173 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/10fe967efe73c610e526ff7460581610633dee9c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/11f6066af3bfb8149aa16c42c0b0c5ea5b199a94 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/21f4d45eba0b2dcae5dbc9e5e0ad08735c993f16 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/402b6985e872b4cf394bbbf33b503947a326a6cb (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/48294a67863c9cfa367abb66bbf0ef6548ae124f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/566f8d5c8a443f2dd69c5460fdec43ed1c870c65 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b6eb25d870f1a8ae571fd3da2244b71df547824b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/eeb4345488672584db4f8c20a1ae13a212ce31c4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8029-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8030-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8033-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8033-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8033-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8034-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8033-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8029-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8033-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8034-2 (opens in a new tab)