CVE-2025-38280 bpf: Avoid __bpf_prog_ret0_warn when jit fails
A local attacker can trigger a kernel warning and potential denial of service in the Linux kernel BPF subsystem when JIT compilation fails under specific configurations.
- 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-2025-38280?
CVE-2025-38280 is a high-severity denial of service vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, 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:
bpf: Avoid __bpf_prog_ret0_warn when jit fails
syzkaller reported an issue:
WARNING: CPU: 3 PID: 217 at kernel/bpf/core.c:2357 __bpf_prog_ret0_warn+0xa/0x20 kernel/bpf/core.c:2357 Modules linked in: CPU: 3 UID: 0 PID: 217 Comm: kworker/u32:6 Not tainted 6.15.0-rc4-syzkaller-00040-g8bac8898fe39 RIP: 0010:__bpf_prog_ret0_warn+0xa/0x20 kernel/bpf/core.c:2357 Call Trace: <TASK> bpf_dispatcher_nop_func include/linux/bpf.h:1316 [inline] __bpf_prog_run include/linux/filter.h:718 [inline] bpf_prog_run include/linux/filter.h:725 [inline] cls_bpf_classify+0x74a/0x1110 net/sched/cls_bpf.c:105 ...
When creating bpf program, 'fp->jit_requested' depends on bpf_jit_enable. This issue is triggered because of CONFIG_BPF_JIT_ALWAYS_ON is not set and bpf_jit_enable is set to 1, causing the arch to attempt JIT the prog, but jit failed due to FAULT_INJECTION. As a result, incorrectly treats the program as valid, when the program runs it calls `__bpf_prog_ret0_warn` and triggers the WARN_ON_ONCE(1).
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-38280?
It affects 2 products.
Products include Debian Debian Linux, Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2025-38280?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade, then put limits on request size, rate and nesting depth so one client cannot exhaust the service. More about Denial of service.
Is CVE-2025-38280 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-38280 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux
Sources
Also known as AZL-64907, BELL-CVE-2025-38280, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-38280, GHSA-h6w8-9939-9v6v, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2025-38280, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2025-38280 and 3 more.