CVE-2025-68762
net: netpoll: initialize work queue before error checks
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.
INFO
Published Date :
Jan. 5, 2026, 10:15 a.m.
Last Modified :
Jan. 5, 2026, 10:15 a.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
Source :
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Solution
- Initialize work queue before error checks.
- Ensure work queue is initialized before cleanup.
- Apply kernel patches for netpoll initialization.
- Update the Linux kernel to the latest version.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2025-68762.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2025-68762 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2025-68762
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2025-68762 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2025-68762 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
-
New CVE Received by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Jan. 05, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added 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. Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/760bc6ceda8e2c273c0e2018ad2595967c3dd308 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a90d0dc38a10347078cca60e7495ad0648838f18 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e5235eb6cfe02a51256013a78f7b28779a7740d5