CVE-2025-68762 net: netpoll: initialize work queue before error checks
A kernel warning occurs when netconsole setup fails on specific devices, potentially leading to a denial of service.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2025-68762?
CVE-2025-68762 is a vulnerability in Linux, published on 5 Jan 2026. 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: netpoll: initialize work queue before error checks
Prevent a kernel warning when netconsole setup fails on devices with IFF_DISABLE_NETPOLL flag. The warning (at kernel/workqueue.c:4242 in __flush_work) occurs because the cleanup path tries to cancel an uninitialized work queue.
When __netpoll_setup() encounters a device with IFF_DISABLE_NETPOLL, it fails early and calls skb_pool_flush() for cleanup. This function calls cancel_work_sync(&np->refill_wq), but refill_wq hasn't been initialized yet, triggering the warning.
Move INIT_WORK() to the beginning of __netpoll_setup(), ensuring the work queue is properly initialized before any potential failure points. This allows the cleanup path to safely cancel the work queue regardless of where the setup fails.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-68762?
How do I fix CVE-2025-68762?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2025-68762 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-68762 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2025-68762, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-68762, GHSA-74p6-p33f-j22m, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-68762.