bpf: Check the helper function is valid in get_helper_proto
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 4 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Check the helper function is valid in get_helper_proto kernel test robot reported verifier bug [1] where the helper func pointer could be NULL due to disabled config option. As Alexei suggested we could check on that in get_helper_proto directly. Marking tail_call helper func with BPF_PTR_POISON, because it is unused by design. [1] https://lore.kernel.org/oe-lkp/[email protected]
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.6.160, 6.12.50, 6.16.10, 6.17
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-39990
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-2m9q-5w5g-jwfp
- 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-21 Fix available: Linux/[email protected], Linux/Linux@dfbff47f120e4b0793ca0e0b8660361ccac25a74 · CNA
- 2026-10-21 1 new reference · CNA
References
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Sources
- CVE-2025-39990 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-39990 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-2m9q-5w5g-jwfp · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-39990 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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