CVE-2025-39851

What it is

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: vxlan: Fix NPD when refreshing an FDB entry with a nexthop object VXLAN FDB entries can point to either a remote destination or an FDB nexthop group. The latter is usually used in EVPN deployments where learning is disabled. However, when learning is enabled, an incoming packet might try to refresh an FDB entry that points to an FDB nexthop group and therefore does not have a remote. Such packets should be dropped, but they are only dropped after dereferencing the non-existent remote, resulting in a NPD [1] which can be reproduced using [2]. Fix by dropping such packets earlier. Remove the misleading comment from first_remote_rcu(). [1] BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000 [...] CPU: 13 UID: 0 PID: 361 Comm: mausezahn Not tainted 6.17.0-rc1-virtme-g9f6b606b6b37 #1 PREEMPT(voluntary) Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.17.0-4.fc41 04/01/2014 RIP: 0010:vxlan_snoop+0x98/0x1e0 [...] Call Trace: <TASK> vxlan_encap_bypass+0x209/0x240 encap_bypass_if_local+0xb1/0x100 vxlan_xmit_one+0x1375/0x17e0 vxlan_xmit+0x6b4/0x15f0 dev_hard_start_xmit+0x5d/0x1c0 __dev_queue_xmit+0x246/0xfd0 packet_sendmsg+0x113a/0x1850 __sock_sendmsg+0x38/0x70 __sys_sendto+0x126/0x180 __x64_sys_sendto+0x24/0x30 do_syscall_64+0xa4/0x260 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x4b/0x53 [2] #!/bin/bash ip address add 192.0.2.1/32 dev lo ip address add 192.0.2.2/32 dev lo ip nexthop add id 1 via 192.0.2.3 fdb ip nexthop add id 10 group 1 fdb ip link add name vx0 up type vxlan id 10010 local 192.0.2.1 dstport 12345 localbypass ip link add name vx1 up type vxlan id 10020 local 192.0.2.2 dstport 54321 learning bridge fdb add 00:11:22:33:44:55 dev vx0 self static dst 192.0.2.2 port 54321 vni 10020 bridge fdb add 00:aa:bb:cc:dd:ee dev vx1 self static nhid 10 mausezahn vx0 -a 00:aa:bb:cc:dd:ee -b 00:11:22:33:44:55 -c 1 -q

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited over the network without logging in. High risk of service disruption.

Exploit odds

0.4% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2025-09-19 16:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-10-30 13:18 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.4% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 7.5 HIGH (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2025-09-19 16:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-10-30 13:18 UTC

Exploit probability

0.4% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-476 · NULL pointer dereference

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Linux Kernel < 6.12.46
• Linux Kernel < 6.16.6
• Linux Kernel 6.17

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 7.5

Attack vector

Network

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

None

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

None

Integrity

None

Availability

High

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2025-39851.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2025-39851. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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