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.
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.
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.
cve · low confidence lookup
CVE-2025-68795 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
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.