UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38542: High severity ubuntu/linux vulnerability

Q: Who can exploit this issue?

An attacker needs local access and low-level privileges on an affected Ubuntu kernel system. The provided severity vector indicates no user interaction is required.

Q: What is the impact of successful exploitation?

The issue can cause a denial of service through a device reference-count leak when an existing AppleTalk route entry is updated. The supplied vector indicates high availability impact, with no confidentiality or integrity impact.

Q: How can I tell whether my system is affected?

Review whether the system is running one of the listed Ubuntu kernel packages and uses AppleTalk routing. The vulnerable behavior is triggered when updating an existing route entry in atrtr_create().

Q: What can be done while patching is unavailable?

Limit local access and privileges on affected systems, since exploitation requires local low-privileged access. Avoid updating existing AppleTalk route entries where possible.

Published Aug 16, 2025

Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: appletalk: Fix device refcount leak in atrtrcreate() When updating an existing route entry in atrtrcreate(), the old device reference was not being released before assigning the new device, leading to a device refcount leak. Fix this by calling devput() to release the old device reference before holding the new one.

Affected Software

225 affected componentsFixes available

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-lts-xenial*

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-aws-hwe*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-hwe*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-kvm*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-4.15*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-4.15*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*

ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-hwe*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-kvm*

ubuntu/linux-oem*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-raspi-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15<5.15.0-1092.99~20.04.1

5.15.0-1092.99~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15<5.15.0-1096.105~20.04.1

5.15.0-1096.105~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-bluefield*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15<5.15.0-1092.101~20.04.1

5.15.0-1092.101~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-gke*

ubuntu/linux-gke-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15<5.15.0-156.166~20.04.1

5.15.0-156.166~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-ibm*

ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15<5.15.0-1086.89~20.04.1

5.15.0-1086.89~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15<5.15.0-1087.93~20.04.1

5.15.0-1087.93~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-iot*

ubuntu/linux-kvm*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15<5.15.0-156.166~20.04.1

5.15.0-156.166~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15<5.15.0-1045.45~20.04.1

5.15.0-1045.45~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15<5.15.0-1090.96~20.04.1

5.15.0-1090.96~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-raspi2*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15<5.15.0-1087.91~20.04.1

5.15.0-1087.91~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux<5.15.0-156.166

5.15.0-156.166

ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws<5.15.0-1092.99

5.15.0-1092.99

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8<6.8.0-1046.49~22.04.1

6.8.0-1046.49~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure<5.15.0-1096.105

5.15.0-1096.105

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8<6.8.0-1051.57~22.04.1

6.8.0-1051.57~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<5.15.0-1096.105.1

5.15.0-1096.105.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8<6.8.0-1046.53~22.04.1

6.8.0-1046.53~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-gcp<5.15.0-1092.101

5.15.0-1092.101

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8<6.8.0-1047.50~22.04.2

6.8.0-1047.50~22.04.2

ubuntu/linux-gke<5.15.0-1089.95

5.15.0-1089.95

ubuntu/linux-gkeop<5.15.0-1075.83

5.15.0-1075.83

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.8<6.8.0-100.100~22.04.1

6.8.0-100.100~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-ibm<5.15.0-1086.89

5.15.0-1086.89

ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8<6.8.0-1044.44~22.04.1

6.8.0-1044.44~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg<5.15.0-1087.93

5.15.0-1087.93

ubuntu/linux-kvm<5.15.0-1088.93

5.15.0-1088.93

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<5.15.0-156.166

5.15.0-156.166

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8<6.8.0-100.100.1~22.04.1

6.8.0-100.100.1~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia<5.15.0-1087.88

5.15.0-1087.88

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8<6.8.0-1046.49~22.04.1

6.8.0-1046.49~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra<5.15.0-1045.45

5.15.0-1045.45

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-igx<5.15.0-1034.34

5.15.0-1034.34

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-oracle<5.15.0-1090.96

5.15.0-1090.96

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8<6.8.0-1043.44~22.04.1

6.8.0-1043.44~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-raspi<5.15.0-1086.89

5.15.0-1086.89

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8<6.8.0-100.100~22.04.1

6.8.0-100.100~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp<5.15.0-1056.60

5.15.0-1056.60

ubuntu/linux-bluefield<5.15.0-1076.78

5.15.0-1076.78

ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime<5.15.0-1085.87

5.15.0-1085.87

ubuntu/linux-realtime<5.15.0-1092.101

5.15.0-1092.101

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8<6.8.1-1041.42~22.04.1

6.8.1-1041.42~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<5.15.0-1092.99+fips1

5.15.0-1092.99+fips1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<5.15.0-1096.105+fips1

5.15.0-1096.105+fips1

ubuntu/linux-fips<5.15.0-156.166+fips1

5.15.0-156.166+fips1

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<5.15.0-1092.101+fips1

5.15.0-1092.101+fips1

ubuntu/linux<6.8.0-100.100

6.8.0-100.100

ubuntu/linux-aws<6.8.0-1046.49

6.8.0-1046.49

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14<6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1

6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure<6.8.0-1046.52

6.8.0-1046.52

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.14<6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1

6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<6.8.0-1046.53

6.8.0-1046.53

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia<6.8.0-1039.42

6.8.0-1039.42

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gcp<6.8.0-1047.50

6.8.0-1047.50

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14<6.14.0-1020.21~24.04.1

6.14.0-1020.21~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-gke<6.8.0-1043.48

6.8.0-1043.48

ubuntu/linux-gkeop<6.8.0-1030.33

6.8.0-1030.33

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-ibm<6.8.0-1044.44

6.8.0-1044.44

ubuntu/linux-intel*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<6.8.0-100.100.1

6.8.0-100.100.1

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia<6.8.0-1046.49

6.8.0-1046.49

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency<6.8.0-1046.49.1

6.8.0-1046.49.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra<6.8.0-1020.20

6.8.0-1020.20

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14<6.14.0-1016.16

6.14.0-1016.16

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-oracle<6.8.0-1043.44

6.8.0-1043.44

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14<6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1

6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-raspi<6.8.0-1047.51

6.8.0-1047.51

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14<6.14.0-36.36.1~24.04.1

6.14.0-36.36.1~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-xilinx<6.8.0-1023.24

6.8.0-1023.24

ubuntu/linux-bluefield<6.8.0-1016.20

6.8.0-1016.20

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime<6.8.0-2037.38

6.8.0-2037.38

ubuntu/linux-realtime<6.8.1-1041.42

6.8.1-1041.42

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14<6.14.0-1016.16~24.04.1

6.14.0-1016.16~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<6.8.0-1046.49+fips1

6.8.0-1046.49+fips1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<6.8.0-1046.52+fips1

6.8.0-1046.52+fips1

ubuntu/linux-fips<6.8.0-100.100+fips1

6.8.0-100.100+fips1

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<6.8.0-1047.50+fips1

6.8.0-1047.50+fips1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-vmware*

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1092.99~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1096.105~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1092.101~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-156.166~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1086.89~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1087.93~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-156.166~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1045.45~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1090.96~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1087.91~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-156.166
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1092.99
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.49~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1096.105
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1051.57~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1096.105.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.53~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1092.101
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1047.50~22.04.2
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1089.95
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1075.83
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-100.100~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1086.89
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1044.44~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1087.93
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-kvm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1088.93
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-156.166
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-100.100.1~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1087.88
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.49~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1045.45
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-igx to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1034.34
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1090.96
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1043.44~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1086.89
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-100.100~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1056.60
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1076.78
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1085.87
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1092.101
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.1-1041.42~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1092.99+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1096.105+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-156.166+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1092.101+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-100.100
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.49
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.52
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-6.14 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.53
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1039.42
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1047.50
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.14.0-1020.21~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1043.48
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1030.33
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1044.44
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-100.100.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.49
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.49.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1020.20
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.14.0-1016.16
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1043.44
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1047.51
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.14.0-36.36.1~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-xilinx to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1023.24
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1016.20
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-2037.38
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.1-1041.42
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.14.0-1016.16~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.49+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.52+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-100.100+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1047.50+fips1
Compensating control
In net:appletalk's atrtr_create(), call dev_put() to release the old device reference before assigning and holding the new device reference.

Event History

Aug 16, 2025

CVE Published

via OSV·12:15 PM

Data Sourced

via OSV·12:15 PM

DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can exploit this issue?

An attacker needs local access and low-level privileges on an affected Ubuntu kernel system. The provided severity vector indicates no user interaction is required.

What is the impact of successful exploitation?

The issue can cause a denial of service through a device reference-count leak when an existing AppleTalk route entry is updated. The supplied vector indicates high availability impact, with no confidentiality or integrity impact.

How can I tell whether my system is affected?

Review whether the system is running one of the listed Ubuntu kernel packages and uses AppleTalk routing. The vulnerable behavior is triggered when updating an existing route entry in atrtr_create().

What can be done while patching is unavailable?

Limit local access and privileges on affected systems, since exploitation requires local low-privileged access. Avoid updating existing AppleTalk route entries where possible.

UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38542: High severity ubuntu/linux vulnerability

Affected Software

Remediation

Event History

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can exploit this issue?

What is the impact of successful exploitation?

How can I tell whether my system is affected?

What can be done while patching is unavailable?

Company

Resources

Contact

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can exploit this issue?

What is the impact of successful exploitation?

How can I tell whether my system is affected?

What can be done while patching is unavailable?