CVE-2025-38500

CVE-2025-38500 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux Linux Kernel with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-416.

Key facts

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfrm: interface: fix use-after-free after changing collect_md xfrm interface collect_md property on xfrm interfaces can only be set on device creation, thus xfrmi_changelink() should fail when called on such interfaces. The check to enforce this was done only in the case where the xi was returned from xfrmi_locate() which doesn't look for the collect_md interface, and thus the validation was never reached. Calling changelink would thus errornously place the special interface xi in the xfrmi_net->xfrmi hash, but since it also exists in the xfrmi_net->collect_md_xfrmi pointer it would lead to a double free when the net namespace was taken down [1]. Change the check to use the xi from netdev_priv which is available earlier in the function to prevent changes in xfrm collect_md interfaces. [1] resulting oops: [ 8.516540] kernel BUG at net/core/dev.c:12029! [ 8.516552] Oops: invalid opcode: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI [ 8.516559] CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 12 Comm: kworker/u80:0 Not tainted 6.15.0-virtme #5 PREEMPT(voluntary) [ 8.516565] Hardware name: QEMU Ubuntu 24.04 PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.16.3-debian-1.16.3-2 04/01/2014 [ 8.516569] Workqueue: netns cleanup_net [ 8.516579] RIP: 0010:unregister_netdevice_many_notify+0x101/0xab0 [ 8.516590] Code: 90 0f 0b 90 48 8b b0 78 01 00 00 48 8b 90 80 01 00 00 48 89 56 08 48 89 32 4c 89 80 78 01 00 00 48 89 b8 80 01 00 00 eb ac 90 <0f> 0b 48 8b 45 00 4c 8d a0 88 fe ff ff 48 39 c5 74 5c 41 80 bc 24 [ 8.516593] RSP: 0018:ffffa93b8006bd30 EFLAGS: 00010206 [ 8.516598] RAX: ffff98fe4226e000 RBX: ffffa93b8006bd58 RCX: ffffa93b8006bc60 [ 8.516601] RDX: 0000000000000004 RSI: 0000000000000000 RDI: dead000000000122 [ 8.516603] RBP: ffffa93b8006bdd8 R08: dead000000000100 R09: ffff98fe4133c100 [ 8.516605] R10: 0000000000000000 R11: 00000000000003d2 R12: ffffa93b8006be00 [ 8.516608] R13: ffffffff96c1a510 R14: ffffffff96c1a510 R15: ffffa93b8006be00 [ 8.516615] FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ffff98fee73b7000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 [ 8.516619] CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 [ 8.516622] CR2: 00007fcd2abd0700 CR3: 000000003aa40000 CR4: 0000000000752ef0 [ 8.516625] PKRU: 55555554 [ 8.516627] Call Trace: [ 8.516632] <TASK> [ 8.516635] ? rtnl_is_locked+0x15/0x20 [ 8.516641] ? unregister_netdevice_queue+0x29/0xf0 [ 8.516650] ops_undo_list+0x1f2/0x220 [ 8.516659] cleanup_net+0x1ad/0x2e0 [ 8.516664] process_one_work+0x160/0x380 [ 8.516673] worker_thread+0x2aa/0x3c0 [ 8.516679] ? __pfx_worker_thread+0x10/0x10 [ 8.516686] kthread+0xfb/0x200 [ 8.516690] ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 [ 8.516693] ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 [ 8.516697] ret_from_fork+0x82/0xf0 [ 8.516705] ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 [ 8.516709] ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 [ 8.516718] </TASK>

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2025-38500?
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfrm: interface: fix use-after-free after changing collect_md xfrm interface collect_md property on xfrm interfaces can only be set on device creation, thus xfrmi_changelink() should fail when called on such interfaces. The check to enforce this was done only in the case where the xi was returned from xfrmi_locate() which doesn't look for the collect_md interface, and thus the validation was never reached. Calling changelink would thus errornously place the special interface xi in the xfrmi_net->xfrmi hash, but since it also exists in the xfrmi_net->collect_md_xfrmi pointer it would lead to a double free when the net namespace was taken down [1]. Change the check to use the xi from netdev_priv which is available earlier in the function to prevent changes in xfrm collect_md interfaces. [1] resulting oops: [ 8.516540] kernel BUG at net/core/dev.c:12029! [ 8.516552] Oops: invalid opcode: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI [ 8.516559] CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 12 Comm: kworker/u80:0 Not tainted 6.15.0-virtme #5 PREEMPT(voluntary) [ 8.516565] Hardware name: QEMU Ubuntu 24.04 PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.16.3-debian-1.16.3-2 04/01/2014 [ 8.516569] Workqueue: netns cleanup_net [ 8.516579] RIP: 0010:unregister_netdevice_many_notify+0x101/0xab0 [ 8.516590] Code: 90 0f 0b 90 48 8b b0 78 01 00 00 48 8b 90 80 01 00 00 48 89 56 08 48 89 32 4c 89 80 78 01 00 00 48 89 b8 80 01 00 00 eb ac 90 <0f> 0b 48 8b 45 00 4c 8d a0 88 fe ff ff 48 39 c5 74 5c 41 80 bc 24 [ 8.516593] RSP: 0018:ffffa93b8006bd30 EFLAGS: 00010206 [ 8.516598] RAX: ffff98fe4226e000 RBX: ffffa93b8006bd58 RCX: ffffa93b8006bc60 [ 8.516601] RDX: 0000000000000004 RSI: 0000000000000000 RDI: dead000000000122 [ 8.516603] RBP: ffffa93b8006bdd8 R08: dead000000000100 R09: ffff98fe4133c100 [ 8.516605] R10: 0000000000000000 R11: 00000000000003d2 R12: ffffa93b8006be00 [ 8.516608] R13: ffffffff96c1a510 R14: ffffffff96c1a510 R15: ffffa93b8006be00 [ 8.516615] FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ffff98fee73b7000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 [ 8.516619] CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 [ 8.516622] CR2: 00007fcd2abd0700 CR3: 000000003aa40000 CR4: 0000000000752ef0 [ 8.516625] PKRU: 55555554 [ 8.516627] Call Trace: [ 8.516632] <TASK> [ 8.516635] ? rtnl_is_locked+0x15/0x20 [ 8.516641] ? unregister_netdevice_queue+0x29/0xf0 [ 8.516650] ops_undo_list+0x1f2/0x220 [ 8.516659] cleanup_net+0x1ad/0x2e0 [ 8.516664] process_one_work+0x160/0x380 [ 8.516673] worker_thread+0x2aa/0x3c0 [ 8.516679] ? __pfx_worker_thread+0x10/0x10 [ 8.516686] kthread+0xfb/0x200 [ 8.516690] ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 [ 8.516693] ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 [ 8.516697] ret_from_fork+0x82/0xf0 [ 8.516705] ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 [ 8.516709] ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 [ 8.516718] </TASK>
How severe is CVE-2025-38500?
CVE-2025-38500 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2025-38500 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (4th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2025-38500?
CVE-2025-38500 primarily affects Linux Linux Kernel. In total, 9 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2025-38500?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
Does CVE-2025-38500 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
Yes. CVE-2025-38500 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2025-24267.
When was CVE-2025-38500 published?
CVE-2025-38500 was published on 2025-08-12 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (9)

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