CVE-2025-68815: net/sched: ets: Remove drr class from the active list if it changes to strict
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net/sched: ets: Remove drr class from the active list if it changes to strict
Whenever a user issues an ets qdisc change command, transforming a
drr class into a strict one, the ets code isn't checking whether that
class was in the active list and removing it. This means that, if a
user changes a strict class (which was in the active list) back to a drr
one, that class will be added twice to the active list [1].
Doing so with the following commands:
tc qdisc add dev lo root handle 1: ets bands 2 strict 1
tc qdisc add dev lo parent 1:2 handle 20: \
tbf rate 8bit burst 100b latency 1s
tc filter add dev lo parent 1: basic classid 1:2
ping -c1 -W0.01 -s 56 127.0.0.1
tc qdisc change dev lo root handle 1: ets bands 2 strict 2
tc qdisc change dev lo root handle 1: ets bands 2 strict 1
ping -c1 -W0.01 -s 56 127.0.0.1
Will trigger the following splat with list debug turned on:
[ 59.279014][ T365] ------------[ cut here ]------------
[ 59.279452][ T365] list_add double add: new=ffff88801d60e350, prev=ffff88801d60e350, next=ffff88801d60e2c0.
[ 59.280153][ T365] WARNING: CPU: 3 PID: 365 at lib/list_debug.c:35 __list_add_valid_or_report+0x17f/0x220
[ 59.280860][ T365] Modules linked in:
[ 59.281165][ T365] CPU: 3 UID: 0 PID: 365 Comm: tc Not tainted 6.18.0-rc7-00105-g7e9f13163c13-dirty #239 PREEMPT(voluntary)
[ 59.281977][ T365] Hardware name: Bochs Bochs, BIOS Bochs 01/01/2011
[ 59.282391][ T365] RIP: 0010:__list_add_valid_or_report+0x17f/0x220
[ 59.282842][ T365] Code: 89 c6 e8 d4 b7 0d ff 90 0f 0b 90 90 31 c0 e9 31 ff ff ff 90 48 c7 c7 e0 a0 22 9f 48 89 f2 48 89 c1 4c 89 c6 e8 b2 b7 0d ff 90 <0f> 0b 90 90 31 c0 e9 0f ff ff ff 48 89 f7 48 89 44 24 10 4c 89 44
...
[ 59.288812][ T365] Call Trace:
[ 59.289056][ T365] <TASK>
[ 59.289224][ T365] ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5
[ 59.289546][ T365] ets_qdisc_change+0xd2b/0x1e80
[ 59.289891][ T365] ? __lock_acquire+0x7e7/0x1be0
[ 59.290223][ T365] ? __pfx_ets_qdisc_change+0x10/0x10
[ 59.290546][ T365] ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5
[ 59.290898][ T365] ? __mutex_trylock_common+0xda/0x240
[ 59.291228][ T365] ? __pfx___mutex_trylock_common+0x10/0x10
[ 59.291655][ T365] ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5
[ 59.291993][ T365] ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5
[ 59.292313][ T365] ? trace_contention_end+0xc8/0x110
[ 59.292656][ T365] ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5
[ 59.293022][ T365] ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5
[ 59.293351][ T365] tc_modify_qdisc+0x63a/0x1cf0
Fix this by always checking and removing an ets class from the active list
when changing it to strict.
[1] https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/netdev/net.git/tree/net/sched/sch_ets.c?id=ce052b9402e461a9aded599f5b47e76bc727f7de#n663
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A Linux traffic-scheduling flaw can corrupt an internal kernel list when an ETS queue class is repeatedly changed between deficit-round-robin and strict modes. The supplied reproduction triggers a kernel warning. The CVSS assessment indicates potentially severe confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, but the sources do not demonstrate those outcomes.
Executive priority
Patch promptly on affected systems where local users or workloads can administer traffic scheduling. This is not supported as a remote or actively exploited threat, so prioritize by qdisc reachability and shared-host risk rather than treating every Linux system as equally exposed.
Technical view
During an ETS qdisc change from DRR to strict, the class can remain on the active list. Changing it back to DRR then inserts the same class twice, causing an invalid double-add. The documented fix removes the class from the active list whenever it becomes strict. Multiple Linux stable commits are referenced.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to affected Linux kernels using ETS traffic scheduling where a local user or process can issue the required qdisc changes. The supplied affected-version data is ambiguous, so version strings alone are insufficient; verify whether the relevant stable fix is present in each deployed kernel build.
Exploitation context
CVSS 3.1 rates this 7.8 with local access, low complexity, low privileges, and no user interaction. The bundle reports no KEV listing and provides no evidence of active exploitation. Its reproduction establishes list corruption and a warning, but not a demonstrated privilege escalation or broader compromise.
Researcher notes
The demonstrated state transition is DRR to strict without unlinking, followed by strict to DRR and duplicate insertion. The affected-version representation includes unusual and potentially conflicting entries, including "0" and commit identifiers. Use fix-commit presence and vendor package guidance as authoritative validation signals. No CWE was supplied.
Mitigation direction
Install a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable referenced stable fix.
Check distribution or appliance vendor guidance before selecting a fixed package.
Restrict untrusted access to traffic-control and qdisc administration until patched.
Prioritize multi-user systems where local processes can modify ETS configurations.
Validation and detection
Inventory kernel builds and identify systems using ETS qdiscs.
Confirm each build includes the applicable referenced Linux stable commit.
Review authorization for users and processes permitted to modify qdiscs.
Monitor kernel logs for ETS-related warnings or list double-add reports.
Test vendor-fixed kernels in staging without reproducing corruption on production systems.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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