CVE-2025-38000: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sch_hfsc: Fix qlen accounting bug when using peek in hfsc

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sch_hfsc: Fix qlen accounting bug when using peek in hfsc_enqueue() When enqueuing the fir

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sch_hfsc: Fix qlen accounting bug when using peek in hfsc_enqueue() When enqueuing the first packet to an HFSC class, hfsc_enqueue() calls the child qdisc's peek() operation before incrementing sch->q.qlen and sch->qstats.backlog. If the child qdisc uses qdisc_peek_dequeued(), this may trigger an immediate dequeue and potential packet drop. In such cases, qdisc_tree_reduce_backlog() is called, but the HFSC qdisc's qlen and backlog have not yet been updated, leading to inconsistent queue accounting. This can leave an empty HFSC class in the active list, causing further consequences like use-after-free. This patch fixes the bug by moving the increment of sch->q.qlen and sch->qstats.backlog before the call to the child qdisc's peek() operation. This ensures that queue length and backlog are always accurate when packet drops or dequeues are triggered during the peek.

Description from the National Vulnerability Database, published by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

What it means for a small business

Linux is on the computers, phones or browsers your team uses every day. Turn on automatic updates and restart: most of these fixes only take effect after a restart.

How likely is an attack? The Exploit Prediction Scoring System, run by FIRST (the global association of security response teams), puts the odds of this one being exploited in the next 30 days at 0.23%, higher than 13% of CVEs. That’s low, but low isn’t zero, and the odds jump the day someone publishes an exploit. Scored October 28, 2026, updated daily.

Check your own setup

Website check: reads what your site runs from the outside (WordPress version, plugins it can see, old server software) and matches it against this database.
Server check: what your web server says about itself, and whether that version has known flaws.

Sources

Part of the Huttenlocher Technologies vulnerability database, refreshed twice a day from CISA and the NVD. The title, category and plain-language guidance are ours; check the linked record before acting on a detail. This is general guidance, not a review of your systems.

Weekly security brief

The flaws that hit local websites, every Friday.

One short email: what got exploited this week, which WordPress plugins broke, and what to check. Unsubscribe in one click.