CVE-2025-39853 i40e: Fix potential invalid access when MAC list is empty
A flaw in the i40e network driver allows invalid memory access when the MAC list is empty, potentially causing a system crash.
- 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-2025-39853?
CVE-2025-39853 is a high-severity vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 19 Sep 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:
i40e: Fix potential invalid access when MAC list is empty
list_first_entry() never returns NULL - if the list is empty, it still returns a pointer to an invalid object, leading to potential invalid memory access when dereferenced.
Fix this by using list_first_entry_or_null instead of list_first_entry.
Weakness: CWE-125
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-39853?
It affects 2 products.
Products include Debian Debian Linux, Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2025-39853?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2025-39853 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-39853 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux
Sources
Also known as AZL-67523, AZL-74847, BELL-CVE-2025-39853, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-39853, GHSA-7fp7-xjmp-444h, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2025-39853 and 5 more.