CVE-2025-38477
Description
From CVE.org
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/sched: sch_qfq: Fix race condition on qfq_aggregate A race condition can occur when 'agg' is modified in qfq_change_agg (called during qfq_enqueue) while other threads access it concurrently. For example, qfq_dump_class may trigger a NULL dereference, and qfq_delete_class may cause a use-after-free. This patch addresses the issue by: 1. Moved qfq_destroy_class into the critical section. 2. Added sch_tree_lock protection to qfq_dump_class and qfq_dump_class_stats.
Statement
This patch fixes a race condition in the QFQ packet scheduler, where concurrent modification and access to cl->agg may result in a use-after-free or NULL pointer dereference. The bug occurs when qfq_change_class() reassigns the agg pointer while other threads read it in qfq_dump_class() or qfq_delete_class(). The fix synchronizes access using sch_tree_lock() and reorders destruction logic to avoid concurrency issues. This issue can be triggered locally by users with CAP_NET_ADMIN privileges and may lead to kernel crashes or denial-of-service. Although the vulnerability involves a use-after-free, it only results in stale reads of deallocated memory, used in netlink reporting functions. There is no write primitive, function pointer corruption, or kernel state modification, making privilege escalation infeasible in this case.
Mitigation
To mitigate this issue, prevent module sch_qfq from being loaded. Please see https://access.redhat.com/solutions/41278 for how to blacklist a kernel module to prevent it from loading automatically.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 7.3 | 4.7 | 7.8 |
| Attack Vector | Local | Local | Local |
| Attack Complexity | Low | High | Low |
| Privileges Required | Low | Low | Low |
| User Interaction | None | None | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | Unchanged | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | High | None | High |
| Integrity Impact | Low | None | High |
| Availability Impact | High | High | High |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:H
NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Integrity
Technical Impact: Modify Memory
The use of previously freed memory may corrupt valid data, if the memory area in question has been allocated and used properly elsewhere.
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
If chunk consolidation occurs after the use of previously freed data, the process may crash when invalid data is used as chunk information.
Confidentiality
Technical Impact: Read Memory
Read operations on freed memory can sometimes leak sensitive information instead of causing a crash
Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability
Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
If malicious data is entered before chunk consolidation can take place, it may be possible to take advantage of a write-what-where primitive to execute arbitrary code. If the newly allocated data happens to hold a class, in C++ for example, various function pointers may be scattered within the heap data. If one of these function pointers is overwritten with an address to valid shellcode, execution of arbitrary code can be achieved.
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