Vulnerability · Published Nov 12, 2025 · Assigned by Linux

CVE-2025-40123bpf: Enforce expected_attach_type for tailcall compatibility

High 7.8

In plain English

A high-severity security flaw in Linux from Linux. There are no confirmed reports of exploitation so far. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 0.2% (higher than 6% of all known vulnerabilities). Ready-made attack tooling exists: public proof-of-concept code. Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.

Severity (CVSS 3.1)7.8High
Exploit odds (30 days)0.2%top 94.1% of all CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo reportsCISA SSVC: none
Attack tooling1Public PoC

Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Enforce expected_attach_type for tailcall compatibility Yinhao et al. recently reported: Our fuzzer tool discovered an uninitialized pointer issue in the bpf_prog_test_run_xdp() function within the Linux kernel's BPF subsystem. This leads to a NULL pointer dereference when a BPF program attempts to deference the txq member of struct xdp_buff object. The test initializes two programs of BPF_PROG_TYPE_XDP: progA acts as the entry point for bpf_prog_test_run_xdp() and its expected_attach_type can neither be of be BPF_XDP_DEVMAP nor BPF_XDP_CPUMAP. progA calls into a slot of a tailcall map it owns. progB's expected_attach_type must be BPF_XDP_DEVMAP to pass xdp_is_valid_access() validation. The program returns struct xdp_md's egress_ifindex, and the latter is only allowed to be accessed under mentioned expected_attach_type. progB is then inserted into the tailcall which progA calls. The underlying issue goes beyond XDP though. Another example are programs of type BPF_PROG_TYPE_CGROUP_SOCK_ADDR. sock_addr_is_valid_access() as well as sock_addr_func_proto() have different logic depending on the programs' expected_attach_type. Similarly, a program attached to BPF_CGROUP_INET4_GETPEERNAME should not be allowed doing a tailcall into a program which calls bpf_bind() out of BPF which is only enabled for BPF_CGROUP_INET4_CONNECT. In short, specifying expected_attach_type allows to open up additional functionality or restrictions beyond what the basic bpf_prog_type enables. The use of tailcalls must not violate these constraints. Fix it by enforcing expected_attach_type in __bpf_prog_map_compatible(). Note that we only enforce this for tailcall maps, but not for BPF devmaps or cpumaps: There, the programs are invoked through dev_map_bpf_prog_run*() and cpu_map_bpf_prog_run*() which set up a new environment / context and therefore these situations are not prone to this issue.

Affected packages & fixed versions

EcosystemPackageFixed inAdvisory
Debian:12linux6.1.158-1DEBIAN-CVE-2025-40123
Debian:13linux6.12.57-1DEBIAN-CVE-2025-40123
Debian:14linux6.17.6-1DEBIAN-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux5.15.0-202.212UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux6.8.0-106.106UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:25.10linux6.17.0-14.14UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-allwinner-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws5.15.0-1119.126UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-aws6.8.0-1050.53UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:25.10linux-aws6.17.0-1007.7UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.176.17.0-1007.7~24.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.86.8.0-1050.53~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure5.15.0-1125.134UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure6.8.0-1051.57UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:25.10linux-azure6.17.0-1008.8UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.86.8.0-1051.57~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde5.15.0-1124.133UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde6.8.0-1058.65UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:25.10linux-azure-fdeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-6.86.8.0-1058.65~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-nvidiano fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-nvidia-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp5.15.0-1120.130UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp6.8.0-1052.55UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:25.10linux-gcp6.17.0-1007.7UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.176.17.0-1008.8~24.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.86.8.0-1052.55~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gke5.15.0-1115.121UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gke6.8.0-1048.53UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gkeop5.15.0-1102.110UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gkeop6.8.0-1035.38UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.86.8.0-106.106~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-ibm5.15.0-1113.117UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-ibm6.8.0-1049.49UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-ibm-6.86.8.0-1049.49~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-intel-iot-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-intel-iotg5.15.0-1114.120UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-kvm5.15.0-1111.116UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency5.15.0-197.207UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency6.8.0-106.106.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.86.8.0-106.106.1~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia5.15.0-1114.115UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia6.8.0-1049.52UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.176.17.0-1008.8UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.86.8.0-1049.52~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-lowlatency6.8.0-1049.52.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-tegra5.15.0-1070.72UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-tegra6.8.0-1020.20UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-tegra-igx5.15.0-1059.59UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-5.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.0no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.1no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.176.17.0-1011.11UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.8no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oracle5.15.0-1116.122UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oracle6.8.0-1047.48UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:25.10linux-oracle6.17.0-1007.7UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.176.17.0-1007.7~24.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.86.8.0-1047.48~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-raspino fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-raspi6.8.0-1050.54UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:25.10linux-raspi6.17.0-1008.8UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-raspi-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:25.10linux-realtime6.17.0-1006.7UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscvno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-riscvno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:25.10linux-riscv6.17.0-14.14.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscv-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.86.8.0-106.106~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-xilinx6.8.0-1028.29UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-xilinx-zynqmpno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40123

Affected products (as reported)

VendorProductVersions
Linux Linux 5e43f899b03a3492ce5fc44e8900becb04dae9c0 – before e53a59e7cee5c1605d1ed595933098c2b69108f95e43f899b03a3492ce5fc44e8900becb04dae9c0 – before dc4f348952173beb8ceb15be30b249276eccb6055e43f899b03a3492ce5fc44e8900becb04dae9c0 – before a99de19128aec0913f3d529f529fbbff5edfaff85e43f899b03a3492ce5fc44e8900becb04dae9c0 – before 08cb3dc9d2b44f153d0bcf2cb966e4a94b5d0f325e43f899b03a3492ce5fc44e8900becb04dae9c0 – before f856c598080ba7ce1252867b8ecd6ad5bdaf9a6a5e43f899b03a3492ce5fc44e8900becb04dae9c0 – before c1ad19b5d8e23123503dcaf2d4342e1b90b923ad5e43f899b03a3492ce5fc44e8900becb04dae9c0 – before 4540aed51b12bc13364149bf95f6ecef013197c0
Linux Linux 4.17

References