CVE-2025-38675
Unknown Unknown - Not Provided
BaseFortify

Publication date: 2025-08-22

Last updated on: 2025-11-25

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfrm: state: initialize state_ptrs earlier in xfrm_state_find In case of preemption, xfrm_state_look_at will find a different pcpu_id and look up states for that other CPU. If we matched a state for CPU2 in the state_cache while the lookup started on CPU1, we will jump to "found", but the "best" state that we got will be ignored and we will enter the "acquire" block. This block uses state_ptrs, which isn't initialized at this point. Let's initialize state_ptrs just after taking rcu_read_lock. This will also prevent a possible misuse in the future, if someone adjusts this function.
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Meta Information
Published
2025-08-22
Last Modified
2025-11-25
Generated
2026-05-27
AI Q&A
2025-08-22
EPSS Evaluated
2026-05-25
NVD
CVE-2025-38675
Affected Vendors & Products
Showing 9 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel From 5.15.160 (inc) to 5.16 (inc)
linux linux_kernel 6.16
linux linux_kernel 6.16
linux linux_kernel 6.16
linux linux_kernel 6.16
linux linux_kernel 6.16
linux linux_kernel 6.16
linux linux_kernel 6.16
linux linux_kernel From 5.15.160 (inc) to 5.16 (inc)
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-362 The product contains a concurrent code sequence that requires temporary, exclusive access to a shared resource, but a timing window exists in which the shared resource can be modified by another code sequence operating concurrently.
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AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?

This vulnerability in the Linux kernel involves the xfrm (IPsec) state management code. Specifically, the function xfrm_state_look_at can, during preemption, access state information for a different CPU than the one it started on. This leads to a situation where an uninitialized pointer (state_ptrs) is used in the 'acquire' block of code, which can cause incorrect behavior or potential misuse. The fix involves initializing state_ptrs earlier to prevent this issue.


How can this vulnerability impact me? :

The vulnerability can cause the Linux kernel's IPsec state management to behave incorrectly due to use of uninitialized pointers when CPU preemption occurs. This could potentially lead to system instability, crashes, or unexpected behavior in network security processing, impacting system reliability and security.


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