CVE-2025-38568

Description

From CVE.org

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/sched: mqprio: fix stack out-of-bounds write in tc entry parsing TCA_MQPRIO_TC_ENTRY_INDEX is validated using NLA_POLICY_MAX(NLA_U32, TC_QOPT_MAX_QUEUE), which allows the value TC_QOPT_MAX_QUEUE (16). This leads to a 4-byte out-of-bounds stack write in the fp[] array, which only has room for 16 elements (0–15). Fix this by changing the policy to allow only up to TC_QOPT_MAX_QUEUE - 1.

Statement

A bounds-check bug in mqprio TC entry parsing allows a 4-byte stack out-of-bounds write when TCA_MQPRIO_TC_ENTRY_INDEX equals 16, causing kernel crashes. Exploitation requires local netlink access with CAP_NET_ADMIN (often within the relevant network namespace). No practical confidentiality or integrity impact is evident due to tight value constraints enforced by the netlink policy.

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 HatNVDcve.org
Base Score4.77.87.8
Attack VectorLocalLocalLocal
Attack ComplexityHighLowLow
Privileges RequiredLowLowLow
User InteractionNoneNoneNone
ScopeUnchangedUnchangedUnchanged
ConfidentialityNoneHighHigh
Integrity ImpactNoneHighHigh
Availability ImpactHighHighHigh

Vector

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

NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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,Availability

Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart

Use of an index that is outside the bounds of an array will very likely result in the corruption of relevant memory and perhaps instructions, leading to a crash, if the values are outside of the valid memory area.

Integrity

Technical Impact: Modify Memory

If the memory corrupted is data, rather than instructions, the system will continue to function with improper values.

Confidentiality,Integrity

Technical Impact: Modify Memory; Read Memory

Use of an index that is outside the bounds of an array can also trigger out-of-bounds read or write operations, or operations on the wrong objects; i.e., "buffer overflows" are not always the result. This may result in the exposure or modification of sensitive data.

Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability

Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands

If the memory accessible by the attacker can be effectively controlled, it may be possible to execute arbitrary code, as with a standard buffer overflow and possibly without the use of large inputs if a precise index can be controlled.

Integrity,Availability,Confidentiality

Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart; Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands; Read Memory; Modify Memory

A single fault could allow either an overflow (CWE-788) or underflow (CWE-786) of the array index. What happens next will depend on the type of operation being performed out of bounds, but can expose sensitive information, cause a system crash, or possibly lead to arbitrary code execution.

Frequently Asked Questions

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