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CVE Record

CVE-2025-38107: net_sched: ets: fix a race in ets_qdisc_change()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net_sched: ets: fix a race in ets_qdisc_change() Gerrard Tai reported a race condition in ETS, whenever SFQ perturb timer fires at the wrong time. The race is as follows: CPU 0 CPU 1 [1]: lock root [2]: qdisc_tree_flush_backlog() [3]: unlock root | | [5]: lock root | [6]: rehash | [7]: qdisc_tree_reduce_backlog() | [4]: qdisc_put() This can be abused to underflow a parent's qlen. Calling qdisc_purge_queue() instead of qdisc_tree_flush_backlog() should fix the race, because all packets will be purged from the qdisc before releasing the lock.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux traffic-control race can corrupt queue accounting when ETS and SFQ operations overlap. A local, low-privileged attacker may be able to trigger serious confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts. Exposure depends on the installed kernel and use or accessibility of the affected queuing functionality.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority local privilege-boundary issue, especially on shared Linux hosts, container platforms, and systems admitting untrusted users. Patch through supported vendor channels after confirming applicability. Internet exposure alone does not establish vulnerability because the documented attack vector is local.

Technical view

CVE-2025-38107 is a race in ets_qdisc_change(). An SFQ perturb timer can rehash queues between backlog flushing and qdisc release, allowing a parent qdisc's qlen to underflow. The kernel fix purges queued packets with qdisc_purge_queue() before releasing the lock. CVSS 3.1 is 7.8 with local, low-complexity, low-privilege attack characteristics.

Likely exposure

Potentially exposed systems run an affected Linux kernel and make the implicated ETS/SFQ traffic-control path reachable to a local low-privileged user. The supplied version list is ambiguous, so inventory should be matched against distribution advisories and the applicable stable-kernel fix commit rather than version numbers alone.

Exploitation context

The supplied record does not identify public exploitation, and its KEV indicator is false. Exploitation is local, requires low privileges, needs no user interaction, and is rated low complexity. No remote attack path is established by the provided evidence.

Researcher notes

The core defect is an ordering race across root-qdisc locking, backlog handling, SFQ rehashing, and qdisc release. The described consequence is parent qlen underflow. The supplied CVSS asserts high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, but the bundle does not provide a public proof of concept or observed exploitation details.

Mitigation direction

  • Install the kernel security update provided by the operating-system or appliance vendor.
  • Match custom kernels against the applicable upstream stable fix commit.
  • Prioritize multi-user systems where untrusted local users can reach traffic-control functionality.
  • If patching is delayed, review vendor guidance for supported temporary mitigations.

Validation and detection

  • Record each system's running kernel version, distribution release, and vendor package revision.
  • Confirm the installed package includes the applicable upstream stable fix.
  • Review whether ETS and SFQ queuing disciplines are configured or available to untrusted local users.
  • After updating, reboot where required and verify the patched kernel is running.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
11

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

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CVE-2025-38107 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
10Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-38107Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CVECVE Program Container

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux699d82e9a6db29d509a71f1f2f4316231e6232e6, ce881ddbdc028fb1988b66e40e45ca0529c23b46, b05972f01e7d30419987a1f221b5593668fd6448, b05972f01e7d30419987a1f221b5593668fd6448, b05972f01e7d30419987a1f221b5593668fd6448, b05972f01e7d30419987a1f221b5593668fd6448, b05972f01e7d30419987a1f221b5593668fd6448, fffa19b5e58c34004a0d6f642d9c24b11d213994, fb155f6597cd7bc3aeed668c3bb15fc3b7cb257d, 5.10.142, 5.15.66, 5.4.213, 5.19.8unaffected
LinuxLinux6.0, 0, 5.10.239, 5.15.186, 6.1.142, 6.6.94, 6.12.34, 6.15.3, 6.16affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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