cbcvebase.
CVE-2025-38553
published 2025-08-19

CVE-2025-38553: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/sched: Restrict conditions for adding duplicating netems to qdisc tree netem_enqueue's…

medium5.5CVSS 3.1
AVLACLPRLUINSUCNINAH
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/sched: Restrict conditions for adding duplicating netems to qdisc tree netem_enqueue's duplication prevention logic breaks when a netem resides in a qdisc tree with other netems - this can lead to a soft lockup and OOM loop in netem_dequeue, as seen in [1]. Ensure that a duplicating netem cannot exist in a tree with other netems. Previous approaches suggested in discussions in chronological order: 1) Track duplication status or ttl in the sk_buff struct. Considered too specific a use case to extend such a struct, though this would be a resilient fix and address other previous and potential future DOS bugs like the one described in loopy fun [2]. 2) Restrict netem_enqueue recursion depth like in act_mirred with a per cpu variable. However, netem_dequeue can call enqueue on its child, and the depth restriction could be bypassed if the child is a netem. 3) Use the same approach as in 2, but add metadata in netem_skb_cb to handle the netem_dequeue case and track a packet's involvement in duplication. This is an overly complex approach, and Jamal notes that the skb cb can be overwritten to circumvent this safeguard. 4) Prevent the addition of a netem to a qdisc tree if its ancestral path contains a netem. However, filters and actions can cause a packet to change paths when re-enqueued to the root from netem duplication, leading us to the current solution: prevent a duplicating netem from inhabiting the same tree as other netems. [1] https://lore.kernel.org/netdev/8DuRWwfqjoRDLDmBMlIfbrsZg9Gx50DHJc1ilxsEBNe2D6NMoigR_eIRIG0LOjMc3r10nUUZtArXx4oZBIdUfZQrwjcQhdinnMis_0G7VEk=@willsroot.io/ [2] https://lwn.net/Articles/719297/

Affected

42 ranges· showing 25
VendorProductVersion rangeFixed in
debiandebian_linux
debianlinux< linux 6.1.148-1 (bookworm)linux 6.1.148-1 (bookworm)
debianlinux-6.1< linux 6.1.148-1 (bookworm)linux 6.1.148-1 (bookworm)
linuxlinux
linuxlinux>= 0afb51e72855971dba83b3c6b70c547c2d1161fd < ad340a4b4adb855b18b3666f26ad65c8968e2debad340a4b4adb855b18b3666f26ad65c8968e2deb
linuxlinux>= 0afb51e72855971dba83b3c6b70c547c2d1161fd < f088b6ebe8797a3f948d2cae47f34bfb45cc6522f088b6ebe8797a3f948d2cae47f34bfb45cc6522
linuxlinux>= 0afb51e72855971dba83b3c6b70c547c2d1161fd < cab2809944989889f88a1a8b5cff1c78460c72cbcab2809944989889f88a1a8b5cff1c78460c72cb
linuxlinux>= 0afb51e72855971dba83b3c6b70c547c2d1161fd < 325f5ec67cc0a77f2d0d453445b9857f1cd06c76325f5ec67cc0a77f2d0d453445b9857f1cd06c76
linuxlinux>= 0afb51e72855971dba83b3c6b70c547c2d1161fd < 103c4e27ec9f5fe53022e46e976abf52c7221baf103c4e27ec9f5fe53022e46e976abf52c7221baf
linuxlinux>= 0afb51e72855971dba83b3c6b70c547c2d1161fd < 795cb393e38977aa991e70a9363da0ee734b2114795cb393e38977aa991e70a9363da0ee734b2114
linuxlinux>= 0afb51e72855971dba83b3c6b70c547c2d1161fd < 250f8796006c0f2bc638ce545f601d49ae8d528b250f8796006c0f2bc638ce545f601d49ae8d528b
linuxlinux>= 0afb51e72855971dba83b3c6b70c547c2d1161fd < 09317dfb681ac5a96fc69bea0c54441cf91b827009317dfb681ac5a96fc69bea0c54441cf91b8270
linuxlinux>= 0afb51e72855971dba83b3c6b70c547c2d1161fd < ec8e0e3d7adef940cdf9475e2352c0680189d14eec8e0e3d7adef940cdf9475e2352c0680189d14e
linuxlinux_kernel
linuxlinux_kernel>= 0 < 5.10.244-15.10.244-1
linuxlinux_kernel>= 0 < 6.1.148-16.1.148-1
linuxlinux_kernel>= 0 < 6.12.43-16.12.43-1
linuxlinux_kernel>= 0 < 6.16.3-16.16.3-1
linuxlinux_kernel>= 0 < 5.15.0-163.1735.15.0-163.173
linuxlinux_kernel>= 0 < 6.8.0-100.1006.8.0-100.100
linuxlinux_kernel>= 2.6.13 < 5.4.2975.4.297
linuxlinux_kernel>= 5.11 < 5.15.1905.15.190
linuxlinux_kernel>= 5.16 < 6.1.1486.1.148
linuxlinux_kernel>= 5.5 < 5.10.2415.10.241
linuxlinux_kernel>= 6.13 < 6.15.106.15.10

CVSS provenance

nvdv3.15.5MEDIUMCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
osv5.5MEDIUM