CVE-2025-38270 net: drv: netdevsim: don't napi_complete() from netpoll
A bug in the netdevsim driver causes a kernel warning and potential crash when netpoll is used, leading to denial of service.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2025-38270?
CVE-2025-38270 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 10 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:
net: drv: netdevsim: don't napi_complete() from netpoll
netdevsim supports netpoll. Make sure we don't call napi_complete() from it, since it may not be scheduled. Breno reports hitting a warning in napi_complete_done():
WARNING: CPU: 14 PID: 104 at net/core/dev.c:6592 napi_complete_done+0x2cc/0x560 __napi_poll+0x2d8/0x3a0 handle_softirqs+0x1fe/0x710
This is presumably after netpoll stole the SCHED bit prematurely.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-38270?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2025-38270?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2025-38270 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-38270 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2025-38270, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-38270, GHSA-vjpc-6q33-m3mr, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38270.