CVE-2025-39968
Description
A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's i40e network driver. A local attacker with low privileges can exploit a missing maximum boundary check for Virtual Function (VF) filters. By requesting an unbounded number of filters, the attacker can cause resource exhaustion, leading to a denial of service (DoS). This issue may also impact the confidentiality and integrity of data due to the system's compromised state.
Mitigation
Prevent the `i40e` kernel module from loading to mitigate this vulnerability. Create a file `/etc/modprobe.d/i40e-blacklist.conf` with the following content:
blacklist i40eThen, regenerate the initramfs and reboot the system for the changes to take effect. This action will disable the i40e network driver, potentially impacting network functionality if i40e-based network adapters are in use. A system reboot is required for the changes to be fully applied.
install i40e /bin/true
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).
The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 5.3 | N/A | 7.3 |
| Attack Vector | Local | N/A | Local |
| Attack Complexity | Low | N/A | Low |
| Privileges Required | Low | N/A | Low |
| User Interaction | None | N/A | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | N/A | Changed |
| Confidentiality | Low | N/A | None |
| Integrity Impact | Low | N/A | Low |
| Availability Impact | Low | N/A | High |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:H
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Resource Consumption (CPU); DoS: Resource Consumption (Memory); DoS: Resource Consumption (Other)
When allocating resources without limits, an attacker could prevent other systems, applications, or processes from accessing the same type of resource. It can be easy for an attacker to consume many resources by rapidly making many requests or causing larger resources to be used than is needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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