CVE-2025-38114 e1000: Move cancel_work_sync to avoid deadlock

What is CVE-2025-38114?

CVE-2025-38114 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 3 Jul 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

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

e1000: Move cancel_work_sync to avoid deadlock

Previously, e1000_down called cancel_work_sync for the e1000 reset task (via e1000_down_and_stop), which takes RTNL.

As reported by users and syzbot, a deadlock is possible in the following scenario:

CPU 0: - RTNL is held - e1000_close - e1000_down - cancel_work_sync (cancel / wait for e1000_reset_task())

CPU 1: - process_one_work - e1000_reset_task - take RTNL

To remedy this, avoid calling cancel_work_sync from e1000_down (e1000_reset_task does nothing if the device is down anyway). Instead, call cancel_work_sync for e1000_reset_task when the device is being removed.

Weakness: CWE-667

Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-38114?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Linux kernel.

How do I fix CVE-2025-38114?

Apply the vendor's patch.

Is CVE-2025-38114 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-38114 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

• CVE-2026-53266 Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2013-6282 Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2022-0185 Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2013-2094 Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2026-53362 Linux Kernel Unspecified Exploited High 7.8

All Linux kernel vulnerabilities

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as BELL-CVE-2025-38114, GHSA-r64j-946x-g525, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38114.