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CVE Record

CVE-2025-39854: ice: fix NULL access of tx->in_use in ice_ll_ts_intr

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ice: fix NULL access of tx->in_use in ice_ll_ts_intr Recent versions of the E810 firmware have support for an extra interrupt to handle report of the "low latency" Tx timestamps coming from the specialized low latency firmware interface. Instead of polling the registers, software can wait until the low latency interrupt is fired. This logic makes use of the Tx timestamp tracking structure, ice_ptp_tx, as it uses the same "ready" bitmap to track which Tx timestamps complete. Unfortunately, the ice_ll_ts_intr() function does not check if the tracker is initialized before its first access. This results in NULL dereference or use-after-free bugs similar to the issues fixed in the ice_ptp_ts_irq() function. Fix this by only checking the in_use bitmap (and other fields) if the tracker is marked as initialized. The reset flow will clear the init field under lock before it tears the tracker down, thus preventing any use-after-free or NULL access.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A flaw in the Linux Intel Ethernet “ice” driver can access timestamp-tracking memory before initialization or after teardown. On systems using relevant E810 firmware features, this may crash the kernel or corrupt memory. Exploitation requires local, low-privileged access according to the supplied CVSS assessment.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation on production hosts with Intel E810 networking, especially where local users or workloads are less trusted. Treat exposed systems as a high-priority stability and memory-safety issue, while recognizing that the supplied evidence does not establish remote or active exploitation.

Technical view

The low-latency transmit-timestamp interrupt handler, ice_ll_ts_intr(), accessed ice_ptp_tx fields without verifying tracker initialization. Concurrent reset teardown could therefore produce a NULL dereference or use-after-free. The referenced kernel fixes gate field and bitmap access on the initialization state, which reset clears under lock before freeing the tracker.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux systems using the ice driver with relevant Intel E810 firmware supporting the extra low-latency timestamp interrupt. The bundle lists Linux 6.8, 6.12.46, 6.16.6, and 6.17 as affected, but does not provide complete distribution-specific package mappings.

Exploitation context

The supplied CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8 with local access and low privileges required. The CVE is not listed as KEV, and the supplied sources provide no evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit. Practical reachability likely depends on affected hardware, firmware, driver state, and timestamp handling.

Researcher notes

The reported weakness is CWE-416, although the description covers both use-after-free and NULL access. Fix logic relies on an initialization flag synchronized with reset teardown under lock. Exact vulnerable commit ranges, firmware versions, distribution backports, and demonstrated security impact are not fully established by the bundle.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade to a vendor-supported kernel containing the referenced upstream or stable fix.
  • Check distribution and appliance advisories for corrected package versions and reboot requirements.
  • Prioritize systems using Intel E810 adapters and the Linux ice driver.
  • If immediate patching is unavailable, consult vendor guidance for supported feature-specific mitigations.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory kernel versions, Intel E810 adapters, firmware versions, and loaded ice drivers.
  • Compare installed kernel packages against distribution advisories and the referenced fix commits.
  • Confirm the replacement kernel is active after remediation, including following any required reboot.
  • Review kernel logs for ice driver faults, NULL dereferences, use-after-free reports, or unexplained crashes.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

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.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-416: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2025-39854 mapping review

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Open ATT&CK lookup
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.

2CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
4Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: total

CVSS vector scores

2 official scores

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

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-39854Attack 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

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
cvssV3_1other:ssvc
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux82e71b226e0ef770d7bc143701c8b4960b4eb3d5, 82e71b226e0ef770d7bc143701c8b4960b4eb3d5, 82e71b226e0ef770d7bc143701c8b4960b4eb3d5unaffected
LinuxLinux6.8, 0, 6.12.46, 6.16.6, 6.17affected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-416 · source CWE mapping

Use After Free

Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.