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CVE Record

CVE-2025-39677: net/sched: Fix backlog accounting in qdisc_dequeue_internal

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/sched: Fix backlog accounting in qdisc_dequeue_internal This issue applies for the following qdiscs: hhf, fq, fq_codel, and fq_pie, and occurs in their change handlers when adjusting to the new limit. The problem is the following in the values passed to the subsequent qdisc_tree_reduce_backlog call given a tbf parent: When the tbf parent runs out of tokens, skbs of these qdiscs will be placed in gso_skb. Their peek handlers are qdisc_peek_dequeued, which accounts for both qlen and backlog. However, in the case of qdisc_dequeue_internal, ONLY qlen is accounted for when pulling from gso_skb. This means that these qdiscs are missing a qdisc_qstats_backlog_dec when dropping packets to satisfy the new limit in their change handlers. One can observe this issue with the following (with tc patched to support a limit of 0): export TARGET=fq tc qdisc del dev lo root tc qdisc add dev lo root handle 1: tbf rate 8bit burst 100b latency 1ms tc qdisc replace dev lo handle 3: parent 1:1 $TARGET limit 1000 echo ''; echo 'add child'; tc -s -d qdisc show dev lo ping -I lo -f -c2 -s32 -W0.001 127.0.0.1 2>&1 >/dev/null echo ''; echo 'after ping'; tc -s -d qdisc show dev lo tc qdisc change dev lo handle 3: parent 1:1 $TARGET limit 0 echo ''; echo 'after limit drop'; tc -s -d qdisc show dev lo tc qdisc replace dev lo handle 2: parent 1:1 sfq echo ''; echo 'post graft'; tc -s -d qdisc show dev lo The second to last show command shows 0 packets but a positive number (74) of backlog bytes. The problem becomes clearer in the last show command, where qdisc_purge_queue triggers qdisc_tree_reduce_backlog with the positive backlog and causes an underflow in the tbf parent's backlog (4096 Mb instead of 0). To fix this issue, the codepath for all clients of qdisc_dequeue_internal has been simplified: codel, pie, hhf, fq, fq_pie, and fq_codel. qdisc_dequeue_internal handles the backlog adjustments for all cases that do not directly use the dequeue handler. The old fq_codel_change limit adjustment loop accumulated the arguments to the subsequent qdisc_tree_reduce_backlog call through the cstats field. However, this is confusing and error prone as fq_codel_dequeue could also potentially mutate this field (which qdisc_dequeue_internal calls in the non gso_skb case), so we have unified the code here with other qdiscs.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux traffic-shaping accounting flaw can leave incorrect backlog values and eventually underflow parent queue statistics. It requires a particular TBF and child-queue configuration plus a limit change. The supplied sources demonstrate corrupted accounting but do not explain how the rated confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts arise in practice.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority kernel maintenance issue on traffic-shaping infrastructure using the affected configuration. Other Linux systems should be inventoried, but the sources do not justify emergency organization-wide response or claims of active exploitation.

Technical view

When TBF exhausts tokens, packets may enter gso_skb. qdisc_dequeue_internal reduced queue length without reducing backlog bytes, leaving stale accounting when hhf, fq, fq_codel, or fq_pie limits changed. Later queue purging could underflow the TBF parent's backlog. The correction centralizes backlog adjustment for affected dequeue clients.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems using a TBF parent with hhf, fq, fq_codel, or fq_pie child disciplines whose limits can be changed. The supplied version data marks Linux affected but does not provide sufficiently clear range semantics for reliable package-level conclusions.

Exploitation context

CVSS 3.1 rates this 7.8 with local access, low complexity, low privileges, and no user interaction. The bundle marks KEV false, and no supplied source reports active exploitation. Evidence shows reproducible accounting corruption; it does not establish a public weaponized exploit or concrete compromise path.

Researcher notes

The observable symptom is zero queued packets with positive backlog bytes, followed by parent-backlog underflow during queue replacement or purging. The fix also simplifies accounting paths for codel and pie clients. Exact affected release boundaries and the mechanism supporting CVSS's high confidentiality and integrity impacts remain unclear from the supplied material.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a distribution-supported kernel containing the referenced stable correction.
  • Check the Linux distribution's advisory for exact fixed packages and reboot requirements.
  • If patching is delayed, follow vendor guidance; the supplied sources name no separate supported workaround.
  • Prioritize remediation on hosts using the identified TBF and child-qdisc combination.

Validation and detection

  • Record each host's running kernel version and distribution package release.
  • Inspect traffic-control configurations for TBF parents with hhf, fq, fq_codel, or fq_pie children.
  • Confirm the installed kernel contains a referenced correction or a documented vendor backport.
  • After updating and rebooting, verify the fixed kernel is actually running.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
4

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

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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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
0ADP providers
3Source 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-2025-39677Attack 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.

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux4b549a2ef4bef9965d97cbd992ba67930cd3e0fe, 4b549a2ef4bef9965d97cbd992ba67930cd3e0feunaffected
LinuxLinux3.5, 0, 6.16.4, 6.17affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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