CVE-2025-38553 Affecting kernel-debug-modules-partner package, versions *


Severity

Recommended
0.0
high
0
10

Based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux security rating.

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  • Snyk IDSNYK-RHEL9-KERNELDEBUGMODULESPARTNER-12020563
  • published19 Aug 2025
  • disclosed19 Aug 2025

Introduced: 19 Aug 2025

NewCVE-2025-38553  (opens in a new tab)

How to fix?

There is no fixed version for RHEL:9 kernel-debug-modules-partner.

NVD Description

Note: Versions mentioned in the description apply only to the upstream kernel-debug-modules-partner package and not the kernel-debug-modules-partner package as distributed by RHEL. See How to fix? for RHEL:9 relevant fixed versions and status.

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

net/sched: Restrict conditions for adding duplicating netems to qdisc tree

netem_enqueue's duplication prevention logic breaks when a netem resides in a qdisc tree with other netems - this can lead to a soft lockup and OOM loop in netem_dequeue, as seen in [1]. Ensure that a duplicating netem cannot exist in a tree with other netems.

Previous approaches suggested in discussions in chronological order:

  1. Track duplication status or ttl in the sk_buff struct. Considered too specific a use case to extend such a struct, though this would be a resilient fix and address other previous and potential future DOS bugs like the one described in loopy fun [2].

  2. Restrict netem_enqueue recursion depth like in act_mirred with a per cpu variable. However, netem_dequeue can call enqueue on its child, and the depth restriction could be bypassed if the child is a netem.

  3. Use the same approach as in 2, but add metadata in netem_skb_cb to handle the netem_dequeue case and track a packet's involvement in duplication. This is an overly complex approach, and Jamal notes that the skb cb can be overwritten to circumvent this safeguard.

  4. Prevent the addition of a netem to a qdisc tree if its ancestral path contains a netem. However, filters and actions can cause a packet to change paths when re-enqueued to the root from netem duplication, leading us to the current solution: prevent a duplicating netem from inhabiting the same tree as other netems.

[1] https://lore.kernel.org/netdev/8DuRWwfqjoRDLDmBMlIfbrsZg9Gx50DHJc1ilxsEBNe2D6NMoigR_eIRIG0LOjMc3r10nUUZtArXx4oZBIdUfZQrwjcQhdinnMis_0G7VEk=@willsroot.io/ [2] https://lwn.net/Articles/719297/

CVSS Base Scores

version 3.1