CVE-2025-38471: linux kernel vulnerability

What is known

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tls: always refresh the queue when reading sock After recent changes in net-next TCP compacts skbs much more aggressively. This unearthed a bug in TLS where we may try to operate on an old skb when checking if all skbs in the queue have matching decrypt state and geometry. BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in tls_strp_check_rcv+0x898/0x9a0 [tls] (net/tls/tls_strp.c:436 net/tls/tls_strp.c:530 net/tls/tls_strp.c:544) Read of size 4 at addr ffff888013085750 by task tls/13529 CPU: 2 UID: 0 PID: 13529 Comm: tls Not tainted 6.16.0-rc5-virtme Call Trace: kasan_report+0xca/0x100 tls_strp_check_rcv+0x898/0x9a0 [tls] tls_rx_rec_wait+0x2c9/0x8d0 [tls] tls_sw_recvmsg+0x40f/0x1aa0 [tls] inet_recvmsg+0x1c3/0x1f0 Always reload the queue, fast path is to have the record in the queue when we wake, anyway (IOW the path going down "if !strp->stm.full_len").

Business impact

Successful exploitation of CVE-2025-38471, a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.8) affecting linux kernel, may affect the confidentiality, integrity or availability of the vulnerable environment. The exact impact depends on the installed version, exposed interfaces and deployment configuration.

Recommended administrator action

Confirm whether linux kernel is present and compare installed versions with the vendor advisory and NVD record. Apply the vendor patch or documented mitigation; until remediation is complete, reduce exposure of affected interfaces, review relevant logs and monitor for indicators of exploitation. DataHouse can support version verification, managed patching, network exposure reduction, log review and backup validation for dedicated, cloud and colocated environments.

Sources

• NVD
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