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CVE Record

CVE-2025-68795: ethtool: Avoid overflowing userspace buffer on stats query

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ethtool: Avoid overflowing userspace buffer on stats query The ethtool -S command operates across three ioctl calls: ETHTOOL_GSSET_INFO for the size, ETHTOOL_GSTRINGS for the names, and ETHTOOL_GSTATS for the values. If the number of stats changes between these calls (e.g., due to device reconfiguration), userspace's buffer allocation will be incorrect, potentially leading to buffer overflow. Drivers are generally expected to maintain stable stat counts, but some drivers (e.g., mlx5, bnx2x, bna, ksz884x) use dynamic counters, making this scenario possible. Some drivers try to handle this internally: - bnad_get_ethtool_stats() returns early in case stats.n_stats is not equal to the driver's stats count. - micrel/ksz884x also makes sure not to write anything beyond stats.n_stats and overflow the buffer. However, both use stats.n_stats which is already assigned with the value returned from get_sset_count(), hence won't solve the issue described here. Change ethtool_get_strings(), ethtool_get_stats(), ethtool_get_phy_stats() to not return anything in case of a mismatch between userspace's size and get_sset_size(), to prevent buffer overflow. The returned n_stats value will be equal to zero, to reflect that nothing has been returned. This could result in one of two cases when using upstream ethtool, depending on when the size change is detected: 1. When detected in ethtool_get_strings(): # ethtool -S eth2 no stats available 2. When detected in get stats, all stats will be reported as zero. Both cases are presumably transient, and a subsequent ethtool call should succeed. Other than the overflow avoidance, these two cases are very evident (no output/cleared stats), which is arguably better than presenting incorrect/shifted stats. I also considered returning an error instead of a "silent" response, but that seems more destructive towards userspace apps. Notes: - This patch does not claim to fix the inherent race, it only makes sure that we do not overflow the userspace buffer, and makes for a more predictable behavior. - RTNL lock is held during each ioctl, the race window exists between the separate ioctl calls when the lock is released. - Userspace ethtool always fills stats.n_stats, but it is likely that these stats ioctls are implemented in other userspace applications which might not fill it. The added code checks that it's not zero, to prevent any regressions.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux kernel ethtool stats query can mis-size a userspace buffer if network device statistics change mid-query. That may cause a buffer overflow in userspace. The sources describe a kernel fix, but no CVSS score or confirmed exploitation.

Executive priority

Track as a kernel maintenance issue unless your fleet heavily depends on affected network drivers or local multi-user access. Prioritize patch rollout through normal kernel update channels, with higher attention for infrastructure hosts using dynamic NIC statistics.

Technical view

The race occurs across ETHTOOL_GSSET_INFO, ETHTOOL_GSTRINGS, and ETHTOOL_GSTATS ioctl calls. Dynamic stat-count drivers can change counts between calls. The fix makes ethtool string, stats, and PHY stats paths return no data when userspace size mismatches current set size.

Likely exposure

Linux systems using affected kernels and querying ethtool statistics are the relevant exposure. The source highlights dynamic counter drivers including mlx5, bnx2x, bna, and ksz884x as examples where the condition is possible.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not cite active exploitation, KEV listing, exploit code, or a CVSS assessment. Triggering appears tied to local or authorized userspace stats queries during network device reconfiguration, but exploitability impact is not established in the provided sources.

Researcher notes

The patch reduces overflow risk but explicitly does not eliminate the inherent race between separate ioctl calls. Review behavior around zero returned stats or missing output, because that is the expected safer failure mode after the fix.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply Linux stable kernel updates containing the referenced ethtool fixes.
  • Check distribution vendor advisories for patched kernel packages.
  • Prioritize hosts using dynamic statistics network drivers named in the advisory.
  • Avoid treating transient ethtool statistics failures as monitoring data integrity guarantees.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions against vendor patched release notes.
  • Confirm kernel package changelogs include the referenced stable fixes.
  • Identify systems using mlx5, bnx2x, bna, or ksz884x drivers.
  • After patching, verify ethtool stats collection remains stable during normal operations.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
9

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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CVE-2025-68795 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
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.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
8Source links

SSVC decision data

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

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
other:ssvc
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2unaffected
LinuxLinux2.6.12, 0, 5.10.248, 5.15.198, 6.1.160, 6.6.120, 6.12.64, 6.18.3, 6.19affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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