CVE-2025-39764
Unknown Unknown - Not Provided
BaseFortify

Publication date: 2025-09-11

Last updated on: 2026-04-18

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: ctnetlink: remove refcounting in expectation dumpers Same pattern as previous patch: do not keep the expectation object alive via refcount, only store a cookie value and then use that as the skip hint for dump resumption. AFAICS this has the same issue as the one resolved in the conntrack dumper, when we do if (!refcount_inc_not_zero(&exp->use)) to increment the refcount, there is a chance that exp == last, which causes a double-increment of the refcount and subsequent memory leak.
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Meta Information
Published
2025-09-11
Last Modified
2026-04-18
Generated
2026-06-16
AI Q&A
2025-09-11
EPSS Evaluated
2026-06-14
NVD
CVE-2025-39764
Affected Vendors & Products
Showing 2 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel 6.17
linux linux_kernel From 5.15.160 (inc) to 5.16 (inc)
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Exploitability
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CWE ID Description
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Executive Summary

This vulnerability in the Linux kernel's netfilter ctnetlink component involves improper reference counting in expectation dumpers. Specifically, the code incorrectly increments the reference count of an expectation object, which can lead to a double increment and cause a memory leak. The fix removes the refcounting by only storing a cookie value used as a skip hint for dump resumption, preventing the object from being kept alive incorrectly.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability can lead to memory leaks in the Linux kernel's netfilter subsystem. Memory leaks can degrade system performance over time and potentially lead to resource exhaustion, which might cause system instability or crashes.

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