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High 7.8Published Nov 12, 2025

CVE-2025-40159xsk: Harden userspace-supplied xdp_desc validation

Updated under an hour ago ()

Does this affect you?

It affects Linux. Add what you run to find out whether that includes you.

No exploitation reported and no EPSS estimate yet.

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xsk: Harden userspace-supplied xdp_desc validation Turned out certain clearly invalid values passed in xdp_desc from userspace can pass xp_{,un}aligned_validate_desc() and then lead to UBs or just invalid frames to be queued for xmit. desc->len close to ``U32_MAX`` with a non-zero pool->tx_metadata_len can cause positive integer overflow and wraparound, the same way low enough desc->addr with a non-zero pool->tx_metadata_len can cause negative integer overflow. Both scenarios can then pass the validation successfully. This doesn't happen with valid XSk applications, but can be used to perform attacks. Always promote desc->len to ``u64`` first to exclude positive overflows of it. Use explicit check_{add,sub}_overflow() when validating desc->addr (which is ``u64`` already). bloat-o-meter reports a little growth of the code size: add/remove: 0/0 grow/shrink: 2/1 up/down: 60/-16 (44) Function old new delta xskq_cons_peek_desc 299 330 +31 xsk_tx_peek_release_desc_batch 973 1002 +29 xsk_generic_xmit 3148 3132 -16 but hopefully this doesn't hurt the performance much.

CVSS
7.8 HIGH (v3.1, CNA)CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness (CWE)
Not given
Known exploited
Not in CISA's KEV catalog
EPSS (exploitation in the next 30 days)
Not loaded for this CVE
Assigned by
Linux
NVD analysis
Deferred
Record last updated
Oct 15, 2026
First seen by InfoSec Signals
Oct 9, 2026

Affected products

Affected products
Linux Linux
linux:linux (from the name)
from 341ac980eab90ac1f6c22ee9f9da83ed9604d899 before 1463cd066f32efd56ddfd3ac4e3524200f362980; 341ac980eab90ac1f6c22ee9f9da83ed9604d899 builds before 5b5fffa7c81e55d8c8edf05ad40d811ec7047e21; 341ac980eab90ac1f6c22ee9f9da83ed9604d899 builds before 07ca98f906a403637fc5e513a872a50ef1247f3b
CNA record

References

The CVE record is authoritative. Products marked “from the name” were identified from the CNA's free-text names, not a CPE, and are matched less certainly. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.

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