CVE-2025-71097: ipv4: Fix reference count leak when using error routes with nexthop objects
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ipv4: Fix reference count leak when using error routes with nexthop objects
When a nexthop object is deleted, it is marked as dead and then
fib_table_flush() is called to flush all the routes that are using the
dead nexthop.
The current logic in fib_table_flush() is to only flush error routes
(e.g., blackhole) when it is called as part of network namespace
dismantle (i.e., with flush_all=true). Therefore, error routes are not
flushed when their nexthop object is deleted:
# ip link add name dummy1 up type dummy
# ip nexthop add id 1 dev dummy1
# ip route add 198.51.100.1/32 nhid 1
# ip route add blackhole 198.51.100.2/32 nhid 1
# ip nexthop del id 1
# ip route show
blackhole 198.51.100.2 nhid 1 dev dummy1
As such, they keep holding a reference on the nexthop object which in
turn holds a reference on the nexthop device, resulting in a reference
count leak:
# ip link del dev dummy1
[ 70.516258] unregister_netdevice: waiting for dummy1 to become free. Usage count = 2
Fix by flushing error routes when their nexthop is marked as dead.
IPv6 does not suffer from this problem.
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2025-71097 is a Linux kernel IPv4 routing bug. Certain blackhole or other error routes can keep a deleted nexthop object and network device referenced, causing a reference count leak and preventing device cleanup. The public bundle does not show remote code execution, privilege escalation, CVSS scoring, or active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as a targeted Linux kernel maintenance issue, not an emergency internet-wide threat. Patch in normal or accelerated maintenance windows for routing-heavy hosts, network appliances, and systems running vendor products that reference this CVE.
Technical view
When an IPv4 nexthop object is deleted, normal routes are flushed but error routes were not flushed unless a full namespace dismantle occurred. Those stale error routes retained references to the nexthop and its device. The fix flushes error routes when their nexthop is marked dead. IPv6 is stated as unaffected.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux systems using IPv4 nexthop objects with error routes such as blackhole routes. The bundle lists Linux kernel versions and stable fix references, but version-range semantics are incomplete. Appliances using embedded Linux may be exposed if their vendor ships an affected kernel.
Exploitation context
No KEV entry is indicated, and the supplied sources do not claim active exploitation. The described trigger requires manipulating routing objects and nexthop configuration, which usually implies local administrative or network-management control. Evidence supports a cleanup/resource-leak impact, not code execution.
Researcher notes
The key behavior is stale IPv4 error routes retaining dead nexthop references after nexthop deletion. The bundle states IPv6 is unaffected. Public evidence lacks CVSS, CWE, exploit reports, and detailed downstream product matrices, so validation should focus on kernel fix presence and vendor backports.
Mitigation direction
Apply vendor kernel updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
Check Linux distribution advisories for the exact fixed package version.
Review Siemens ProductCERT guidance if using affected Siemens products.
Prioritize systems using advanced IPv4 routing or network namespaces.
Avoid relying on upstream version strings without vendor backport confirmation.
Validation and detection
Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, appliances, and containers hosts.
Identify systems using IPv4 nexthop objects and blackhole or error routes.
Confirm installed kernels include one of the referenced stable fixes or a vendor backport.
Check logs for network device unregister waits or persistent device references.
Track vendor advisories where embedded Linux products are present.
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-2025-71097 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.