CVE-2025-38551
5.5 · MEDIUMOverview
CVE-2025-38551 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting linux linux_kernel. It was published on August 16, 2025 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5 (MEDIUM).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5, rated MEDIUM. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.
Technical Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
virtio-net: fix recursived rtnl_lock() during probe()
The deadlock appears in a stack trace like:
virtnet_probe()
rtnl_lock()
virtio_config_changed_work()
netdev_notify_peers()
rtnl_lock()
It happens if the VMM sends a VIRTIO_NET_S_ANNOUNCE request while the
virtio-net driver is still probing.
The config_work in probe() will get scheduled until virtnet_open() enables
the config change notification via virtio_config_driver_enable().
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from linux. Update linux_kernel to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| linux | linux_kernel | >= 6.11.2, < 6.12.40 | Affected |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2025-38551?
CVE-2025-38551 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting linux linux_kernel. It was published on August 16, 2025 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5 (MEDIUM).
How severe is CVE-2025-38551?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5, rated MEDIUM. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2025-38551?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from linux. Update linux_kernel to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2025-38551?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2025-38551 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
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