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CVE-2025-71092NVD status: Modified

Linux: Out-of-bounds Write

CVE-2025-71092 is a high-severity out-of-bounds write vulnerability in Linux, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 369a161c48723f60f06f3510b82ea7d96d0499ab, 9b68a1cc966bc947d00e4c0df7722d118125aa37 as the first without the flaw, so updating Linux to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.13% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Linux to 369a161c48723f60f06f3510b82ea7d96d0499ab or 9b68a1cc966bc947d00e4c0df7722d118125aa37, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Update Linux Kernel to 6.18.4 or a later version.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
LinuxLinuxef56081d1864582a6db50710733416c0510b7826 up to, but not including, 369a161c48723f60f06f3510b82ea7d96d0499ab; ef56081d1864582a6db50710733416c0510b7826 up to, but not including, 9b68a1cc966bc947d00e4c0df7722d118125aa37; 6.18369a161c48723f60f06f3510b82ea7d96d0499ab, 9b68a1cc966bc947d00e4c0df7722d118125aa37
LinuxLinux Kernel6.18.1 up to, but not including, 6.18.4; 6.18; 6.196.18.4

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.8HighCNA
CVSS 3.17.8HighNVD

Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: RDMA/bnxt_re: Fix OOB write in bnxt_re_copy_err_stats() Commit ef56081d1864 ("RDMA/bnxt_re: RoCE related hardware counters update") added three new counters and placed them after BNXT_RE_OUT_OF_SEQ_ERR. BNXT_RE_OUT_OF_SEQ_ERR acts as a boundary marker for allocating hardware statistics with different num_counters values on chip_gen_p5_p7 devices. As a result, BNXT_RE_NUM_STD_COUNTERS are used when allocating hw_stats, which leads to an out-of-bounds write in bnxt_re_copy_err_stats(). The counters BNXT_RE_REQ_CQE_ERROR, BNXT_RE_RESP_CQE_ERROR, and BNXT_RE_RESP_REMOTE_ACCESS_ERRS are applicable to generic hardware, not only p5/p7 devices. Fix this by moving these counters before BNXT_RE_OUT_OF_SEQ_ERR so they are included in the generic counter set.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Out-of-bounds Write

The product writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Use a language that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. For example, many languages that perform their own memory management, such as Java and Perl, are not subject to buffer overflows. Other languages, such as Ada and C#, typically provide overflow protection, but the protection can be disabled by the programmer. Be wary that a language's interface to native code may still be subject to overflows, even if the language itself is theoretically safe.
  • Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. Examples include the Safe C String Library (SafeStr) by Messier and Viega, and the Strsafe.h library from Microsoft. These libraries provide safer versions of overflow-prone string-handling functions.
  • Use automatic buffer overflow detection mechanisms that are offered by certain compilers or compiler extensions. Examples include: the Microsoft Visual Studio /GS flag, Fedora/Red Hat FORTIFY_SOURCE GCC flag, StackGuard, and ProPolice, which provide various mechanisms including canary-based detection and range/index checking. D3-SFCV (Stack Frame Canary Validation) from D3FEND discusses canary-based detection in detail.

More Out-of-bounds Write vulnerabilities (CWE-787)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Recent Out-of-bounds Write vulnerabilities

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