CVE-2025-11961 OOBR and OOBW in pcap_ether_aton() in libpcap
Out-of-bounds read and write in libpcap's pcap_ether_aton function can lead to memory corruption and potential code execution.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- An administrator
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2025-11961?
CVE-2025-11961 is a low-severity memory corruption vulnerability in The Tcpdump Group libpcap, published on 31 Dec 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
pcap_ether_aton() is an auxiliary function in libpcap, it takes a string argument and returns a fixed-size allocated buffer. The string argument must be a well-formed MAC-48 address in one of the supported formats, but this requirement has been poorly documented. If an application calls the function with an argument that deviates from the expected format, the function can read data beyond the end of the provided string and write data beyond the end of the allocated buffer.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-11961?
Linux distribution packages (14)
libpcap SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 | All versions | 1.9.1-150300.3.6.1 |
libpcap SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | All versions | 1.10.1-150400.3.9.1 |
libpcap SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | All versions | 1.10.1-150400.3.9.1 |
libpcap SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | All versions | 1.10.1-150400.3.9.1 |
libpcap SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 | All versions | 1.10.5-150700.3.7.1 |
libpcap SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Package Hub 15 SP7 | All versions | 1.10.5-150700.3.7.1 |
libpcap SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 16.0 | All versions | 1.10.5-160000.4.1 |
libpcap SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5 | All versions | 1.8.1-10.9.1 |
libpcap SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.0 | All versions | 1.10.5-160000.4.1 |
libpcap SUSE:Linux Micro 6.0 | All versions | 1.10.4-4.1 |
libpcap SUSE:Linux Micro 6.2 | All versions | 1.10.5-160000.4.1 |
libpcap openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | All versions | 1.10.4-150600.3.9.1 |
libpcap openSUSE:Leap 16.0 | All versions | 1.10.5-160000.4.1 |
libpcap openSUSE:Tumbleweed | All versions | 1.10.6-1.1 |
How do I fix CVE-2025-11961?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.
Is CVE-2025-11961 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-11961 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as ALPINE-CVE-2025-11961, AZL-73335, AZL-73344, AZL-73373, AZL-73379, BELL-CVE-2025-11961 and 22 more.