CVE-2025-39770: net: gso: Forbid IPv6 TSO with extensions on devices with only IPV6_CSUM
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net: gso: Forbid IPv6 TSO with extensions on devices with only IPV6CSUM
When performing Generic Segmentation Offload (GSO) on an IPv6 packet that contains extension headers, the kernel incorrectly requests checksum offload if the egress device only advertises NETIFFIPV6CSUM feature, which has a strict contract: it supports checksum offload only for plain TCP or UDP over IPv6 and explicitly does not support packets with extension headers. The current GSO logic violates this contract by failing to disable the feature for packets with extension headers, such as those used in GREoIPv6 tunnels.
This violation results in the device being asked to perform an operation it cannot support, leading to a skbwarnbadoffload warning and a collapse of network throughput. While device TSO/USO is correctly bypassed in favor of software GSO for these packets, the GSO stack must be explicitly told not to request checksum offload.
Mask NETIFFIPV6CSUM, NETIFFTSO6 and NETIFFGSOUDPL4 in gsofeaturescheck if the IPv6 header contains extension headers to compute checksum in software.
The exception is a BIG TCP extension, which, as stated in commit 68e068cabd2c6c53 ("net: reenable NETIFFIPV6CSUM offload for BIG TCP packets"): "The feature is only enabled on devices that support BIG TCP TSO. The header is only present for PFPACKET taps like tcpdump, and not transmitted by physical devices."
kernel log output (truncated): WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 5273 at net/core/dev.c:3535 skbwarnbadoffload+0x81/0x140 ... Call Trace: <TASK> skbchecksumhelp+0x12a/0x1f0 validatexmitskb+0x1a3/0x2d0 validatexmitskblist+0x4f/0x80 schdirectxmit+0x1a2/0x380 devxmitskb+0x242/0x670 devqueuexmit+0x3fc/0x7f0 ip6finishoutput2+0x25e/0x5d0 ip6finishoutput+0x1fc/0x3f0 ip6tnlxmit+0x608/0xc00 [ip6tunnel] ip6gretunnelxmit+0x1c0/0x390 [ip6gre] devhardstartxmit+0x63/0x1c0 devqueuexmit+0x6d0/0x7f0 ip6finishoutput2+0x214/0x5d0 ip6finishoutput+0x1fc/0x3f0 ip6xmit+0x2ca/0x6f0 ip6finishoutput+0x1fc/0x3f0 ip6xmit+0x2ca/0x6f0 inet6cskxmit+0xeb/0x150 tcptransmitskb+0x555/0xa80 tcpwritexmit+0x32a/0xe90 tcpsendmsglocked+0x437/0x1110 tcpsendmsg+0x2f/0x50 ... skb linear: 00000000: e4 3d 1a 7d ec 30 e4 3d 1a 7e 5d 90 86 dd 60 0e skb linear: 00000010: 00 0a 1b 34 3c 40 20 11 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 skb linear: 00000020: 00 00 00 00 00 12 20 11 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 skb linear: 00000030: 00 00 00 00 00 11 2f 00 04 01 04 01 01 00 00 00 skb linear: 00000040: 86 dd 60 0e 00 0a 1b 00 06 40 20 23 00 00 00 00 skb linear: 00000050: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 12 20 23 00 00 00 00 skb linear: 00000060: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 11 bf 96 14 51 13 f9 skb linear: 00000070: ae 27 a0 a8 2b e3 80 18 00 40 5b 6f 00 00 01 01 skb linear: 00000080: 08 0a 42 d4 50 d5 4b 70 f8 1a
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Configuration
Apply the kernel fix that masks NETIF_F_IPV6_CSUM, NETIF_F_TSO6, and NETIF_F_GSO_UDP_L4 so that GSO does not request checksum offload for IPv6 packets with extension headers when the egress device only advertises NETIF_F_IPV6_CSUM (prevents skb_warn_bad_offload and related failures).
Linux kernel networking (GSO IPv6 with extension headers) NETIF_F_IPV6_CSUM / NETIF_F_TSO6 / NETIF_F_GSO_UDP_L4 offload masking = Masked/disabled for affected cases
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2025-39770?
CVE-2025-39770 has been classified as a medium severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2025-39770?
To fix CVE-2025-39770, update your Linux kernel to the latest patched version.
What does CVE-2025-39770 affect?
CVE-2025-39770 affects the Linux kernel's handling of Generic Segmentation Offload for IPv6 packets with extension headers.
Is CVE-2025-39770 exploitable?
Yes, CVE-2025-39770 is considered exploitable under specific conditions related to IPv6 packet processing.
When was CVE-2025-39770 disclosed?
CVE-2025-39770 was disclosed in 2025 as part of an update to the Linux kernel.