Vulnerability-Lookup

GHSA-G7RM-8PW5-WVG2

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-09-03 15:30 – Updated: 2025-12-07 00:30

Details

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

netfilter: nf_tables: reject duplicate device on updates

A chain/flowtable update with duplicated devices in the same batch is possible. Unfortunately, netdev event path only removes the first device that is found, leaving unregistered the hook of the duplicated device.

Check if a duplicated device exists in the transaction batch, bail out with EEXIST in such case.

WARNING is hit when unregistering the hook:

[49042.221275] WARNING: CPU: 4 PID: 8425 at net/netfilter/core.c:340 nf_hook_entry_head+0xaa/0x150 [49042.221375] CPU: 4 UID: 0 PID: 8425 Comm: nft Tainted: G S 6.16.0+ #170 PREEMPT(full) [...] [49042.221382] RIP: 0010:nf_hook_entry_head+0xaa/0x150

Severity

5.5 (Medium)


                  
                    CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

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{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2025-38678"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2025-09-03T13:15:48Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nnetfilter: nf_tables: reject duplicate device on updates\n\nA chain/flowtable update with duplicated devices in the same batch is\npossible. Unfortunately, netdev event path only removes the first\ndevice that is found, leaving unregistered the hook of the duplicated\ndevice.\n\nCheck if a duplicated device exists in the transaction batch, bail out\nwith EEXIST in such case.\n\nWARNING is hit when unregistering the hook:\n\n [49042.221275] WARNING: CPU: 4 PID: 8425 at net/netfilter/core.c:340 nf_hook_entry_head+0xaa/0x150\n [49042.221375] CPU: 4 UID: 0 PID: 8425 Comm: nft Tainted: G S                  6.16.0+ #170 PREEMPT(full)\n [...]\n [49042.221382] RIP: 0010:nf_hook_entry_head+0xaa/0x150",
  "id": "GHSA-g7rm-8pw5-wvg2",
  "modified": "2025-12-07T00:30:55Z",
  "published": "2025-09-03T15:30:33Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-38678"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0521e694d5b80899fba8695881a6349f9bc538cb"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3f358a66a04513311668ea4b40f5064e253d8386"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4681960bc0f4f8bcc782cbf2fd205f48ad314dfd"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4ce2a0c3b8497a66cfc25fc7ca3d087258a785d2"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cf23d531a9d496863aa4c5a0e2f71f0a23f3df3c"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cf5fb87fcdaaaafec55dcc0dc5a9e15ead343973"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d7615bde541f16517d6790412da6ec46fa8a4c1f"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

CVE-2025-38678 (GCVE-0-2025-38678)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2025-09-03 13:01 – Updated: 2026-08-05 12:03

Title

netfilter: nf_tables: reject duplicate device on updates

Summary

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nf_tables: reject duplicate device on updates A chain/flowtable update with duplicated devices in the same batch is possible. Unfortunately, netdev event path only removes the first device that is found, leaving unregistered the hook of the duplicated device. Check if a duplicated device exists in the transaction batch, bail out with EEXIST in such case. WARNING is hit when unregistering the hook: [49042.221275] WARNING: CPU: 4 PID: 8425 at net/netfilter/core.c:340 nf_hook_entry_head+0xaa/0x150 [49042.221375] CPU: 4 UID: 0 PID: 8425 Comm: nft Tainted: G S 6.16.0+ #170 PREEMPT(full) [...] [49042.221382] RIP: 0010:nf_hook_entry_head+0xaa/0x150

Severity

7.8 (High)


                        
                          CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Assigner

Linux mitre root

References

7 references

URL	Tags
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0521e694d5b80899f…
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4681960bc0f4f8bcc…
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4ce2a0c3b8497a66c…
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3f358a66a04513311…
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cf23d531a9d496863…
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d7615bde541f16517…
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cf5fb87fcdaaaafec…

Impacted products

2 products

Vendor	Product	Version
Linux	Linux	Affected: 78d9f48f7f44431a25da2b46b3a8812f6ff2b981 , < 0521e694d5b80899fba8695881a6349f9bc538cb (git) Affected: 78d9f48f7f44431a25da2b46b3a8812f6ff2b981 , < 4681960bc0f4f8bcc782cbf2fd205f48ad314dfd (git) Affected: 78d9f48f7f44431a25da2b46b3a8812f6ff2b981 , < 4ce2a0c3b8497a66cfc25fc7ca3d087258a785d2 (git) Affected: 78d9f48f7f44431a25da2b46b3a8812f6ff2b981 , < 3f358a66a04513311668ea4b40f5064e253d8386 (git) Affected: 78d9f48f7f44431a25da2b46b3a8812f6ff2b981 , < cf23d531a9d496863aa4c5a0e2f71f0a23f3df3c (git) Affected: 78d9f48f7f44431a25da2b46b3a8812f6ff2b981 , < d7615bde541f16517d6790412da6ec46fa8a4c1f (git) Affected: 78d9f48f7f44431a25da2b46b3a8812f6ff2b981 , < cf5fb87fcdaaaafec55dcc0dc5a9e15ead343973 (git)
Linux	Linux	Affected: 5.8 Unaffected: 0 , < 5.8 (semver) Unaffected: 5.10.247 , ≤ 5.10.* (semver) Unaffected: 5.15.197 , ≤ 5.15.* (semver) Unaffected: 6.1.159 , ≤ 6.1.* (semver) Unaffected: 6.6.117 , ≤ 6.6.* (semver) Unaffected: 6.12.59 , ≤ 6.12.* (semver) Unaffected: 6.16.2 , ≤ 6.16.* (semver) Unaffected: 6.17 , ≤ * (original_commit_for_fix)

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{
  "containers": {
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected",
          "product": "Linux",
          "programFiles": [
            "net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c"
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            {
              "lessThan": "0521e694d5b80899fba8695881a6349f9bc538cb",
              "status": "affected",
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              "versionType": "git"
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              "lessThan": "4681960bc0f4f8bcc782cbf2fd205f48ad314dfd",
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              "version": "78d9f48f7f44431a25da2b46b3a8812f6ff2b981",
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              "lessThan": "4ce2a0c3b8497a66cfc25fc7ca3d087258a785d2",
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              "versionType": "git"
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          "versions": [
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              "status": "affected",
              "version": "5.8"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "5.8",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "0",
              "versionType": "semver"
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              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "5.10.247",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
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              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "5.15.197",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "6.1.*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "6.1.159",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "6.6.*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "6.6.117",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
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              "version": "6.12.59",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "6.16.*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "6.16.2",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "6.17",
              "versionType": "original_commit_for_fix"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "cpeApplicability": [
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          "nodes": [
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                },
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                {
                  "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
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        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nnetfilter: nf_tables: reject duplicate device on updates\n\nA chain/flowtable update with duplicated devices in the same batch is\npossible. Unfortunately, netdev event path only removes the first\ndevice that is found, leaving unregistered the hook of the duplicated\ndevice.\n\nCheck if a duplicated device exists in the transaction batch, bail out\nwith EEXIST in such case.\n\nWARNING is hit when unregistering the hook:\n\n [49042.221275] WARNING: CPU: 4 PID: 8425 at net/netfilter/core.c:340 nf_hook_entry_head+0xaa/0x150\n [49042.221375] CPU: 4 UID: 0 PID: 8425 Comm: nft Tainted: G S                  6.16.0+ #170 PREEMPT(full)\n [...]\n [49042.221382] RIP: 0010:nf_hook_entry_head+0xaa/0x150"
        }
      ],
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        {
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            "baseScore": 7.8,
            "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
            "version": "3.1"
          },
          "scenarios": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "value": "AV:L - The vulnerability is triggered through an nftables netlink batch on NETLINK_NETFILTER (NFNL_SUBSYS_NFTABLES) followed by a local netdev removal, both of which require local system access. Per kernel guidance, netfilter/nftables netlink configuration paths are Local.\nAC:L - The attacker deterministically constructs the condition by submitting a single batch containing two chain-update (or flowtable-update) messages naming the same device, then deleting that device; no race and no uncontrolled state is involved. CONFIG_NETFILTER_INGRESS and netdev-family chains are standard in distribution kernels.\nPR:L - nfnetlink only requires CAP_NET_ADMIN relative to the socket netns\u0027s user namespace (netlink_net_capable -\u003e netlink_ns_capable with sock_net(skb-\u003esk)-\u003euser_ns), so an unprivileged user gains it with unshare -Urn and can create dummy/veth devices, netdev chains and flowtables there. This is Low, not High.\nUI:N - The attacker performs every step \u2014 the duplicate-device batch, the commit, and the device removal \u2014 with no action from any other user or administrator.\nS:U - The corruption and its consequences stay within the kernel\u0027s own security authority; no VM, IOMMU, or hypervisor boundary is crossed. Escalation from a user namespace to kernel privileges is standard kernel privilege escalation, scored Unchanged.\nC:H - The stranded nf_hook_ops retains a dangling ops-\u003edev, and nf_hook_entry_head() dereferences the freed net_device (dev_net(dev)) on the next unregister \u2014 a use-after-free read. UAF of a groomable slab object gives the attacker control over the freed contents and an arbitrary-read path, so High.\nI:H - If the freed net_device is sprayed so nd_net matches, nf_hook_entry_head() returns a pointer into freed memory and __nf_unregister_net_hook()/nf_remove_net_hook()/__nf_hook_entries_tr y_shrink() then dereference and write through it, yielding a use-after-free write with an attacker-influenced nf_hook_entries pointer. The CHANGENAME variant also leaves a live ingress hook with ops-\u003ehook/ops-\u003epriv on freed basechain memory, reachable for control-flow hijack.\nA:H - The bug is confirmed to hit WARNING at nf_hook_entry_head+0xaa (net/netfilter/core.c) in the reporter\u0027s trace, and the underlying use-after-free on struct net_device causes oops/panic under KASAN or slab reuse. Any kernel crash is High."
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-08-05T12:03:54.678Z",
        "orgId": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
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        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cf5fb87fcdaaaafec55dcc0dc5a9e15ead343973"
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      "title": "netfilter: nf_tables: reject duplicate device on updates",
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  "cveMetadata": {
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    "assignerShortName": "Linux",
    "cveId": "CVE-2025-38678",
    "datePublished": "2025-09-03T13:01:15.799Z",
    "dateReserved": "2025-04-16T04:51:24.031Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-08-05T12:03:54.678Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2"
}

Sightings

Author	Source	Type	Date	Other

Nomenclature

Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.

Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.

The MITRE ATT&CK techniques below are AI-generated suggestions, inferred from the description of the vulnerability by the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-classification-roberta-base model, served locally by ML-Gateway. They have not been verified by an analyst and are provided for guidance only.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.

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GHSA-G7RM-8PW5-WVG2

CVE-2025-38678 (GCVE-0-2025-38678)

Tags

Sightings

Nomenclature