CVE-2025-38052 — net/tipc: fix slab-use-after-free Read in tipc_aead_encrypt_done
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/tipc: fix slab-use-after-free Read in tipc_aead_encrypt_done Syzbot reported a slab-use-after-free with the following call trace: ================================================================== BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in tipc_aead_encrypt_done+0x4bd/0x510 net/tipc/crypto.c:840 Read of size 8 at addr ffff88807a733000 by task kworker/1:0/25 Call Trace: kasan_report+0xd9/0x110 mm/kasan/report.c:601 tipc_aead_encrypt_done+0x4bd/0x510 net/tipc/crypto.c:840 crypto_request_complete include/crypto/algapi.h:266 aead_request_complete include/crypto/internal/aead.h:85 cryptd_aead_crypt+0x3b8/0x750 crypto/cryptd.c:772 crypto_request_complete include/crypto/algapi.h:266 cryptd_queue_worker+0x131/0x200 crypto/cryptd.c:181 process_one_work+0x9fb/0x1b60 kernel/workqueue.c:3231 Allocated by task 8355: kzalloc_noprof include/linux/slab.h:778 tipc_crypto_start+0xcc/0x9e0 net/tipc/crypto.c:1466 tipc_init_net+0x2dd/0x430 net/tipc/core.c:72 ops_init+0xb9/0x650 net/core/net_namespace.c:139 setup_net+0x435/0xb40 net/core/net_namespace.c:343 copy_net_ns+0x2f0/0x670 net/core/net_namespace.c:508 create_new_namespaces+0x3ea/0xb10 kernel/nsproxy.c:110 unshare_nsproxy_namespaces+0xc0/0x1f0 kernel/nsproxy.c:228 ksys_unshare+0x419/0x970 kernel/fork.c:3323 __do_sys_unshare kernel/fork.c:3394 Freed by task 63: kfree+0x12a/0x3b0 mm/slub.c:4557 tipc_crypto_stop+0x23c/0x500 net/tipc/crypto.c:1539 tipc_exit_net+0x8c/0x110 net/tipc/core.c:119 ops_exit_list+0xb0/0x180 net/core/net_namespace.c:173 cleanup_net+0x5b7/0xbf0 net/core/net_namespace.c:640 process_one_work+0x9fb/0x1b60 kernel/workqueue.c:3231 After freed the tipc_crypto tx by delete namespace, tipc_aead_encrypt_done may still visit it in cryptd_queue_worker workqueue. I reproduce this issue by: ip netns add ns1 ip link add veth1 type veth peer name veth2 ip link set veth1 netns ns1 ip netns exec ns1 tipc bearer enable media eth dev veth1 ip netns exec ns1 tipc node set key this_is_a_master_key master ip netns exec ns1 tipc bearer disable media eth dev veth1 ip netns del ns1 The key of reproduction is that, simd_aead_encrypt is interrupted, leading to crypto_simd_usable() return false. Thus, the cryptd_queue_worker is triggered, and the tipc_crypto tx will be visited. tipc_disc_timeout tipc_bearer_xmit_skb tipc_crypto_xmit tipc_aead_encrypt crypto_aead_encrypt // encrypt() simd_aead_encrypt // crypto_simd_usable() is false child = &ctx->cryptd_tfm->base; simd_aead_encrypt crypto_aead_encrypt // encrypt() cryptd_aead_encrypt_enqueue cryptd_aead_enqueue cryptd_enqueue_request // trigger cryptd_queue_worker queue_work_on(smp_processor_id(), cryptd_wq, &cpu_queue->work) Fix this by holding net reference count before encrypt.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- EPSS 0.5% (30-day exploitation probability)+7
- Technical severity (high)+6
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Debian Debian Linux, Linux Linux, Linux Linux Kernel).
- Apply the fixed version or the patch documented under Remediation.
- Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (memory corruption), errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debian | Debian Linux | version 11.0 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Linux | Linux | version 5.5≥ fc1b6d6de2208774efd2a20bf0daddb02d18b1e0 and < e279024617134c94fd3e37470156534d5f2b3472≥ fc1b6d6de2208774efd2a20bf0daddb02d18b1e0 and < 4a0fddc2c0d5c28aec8c262ad4603be0bef1938c≥ fc1b6d6de2208774efd2a20bf0daddb02d18b1e0 and < 689a205cd968a1572ab561b0c4c2d50a10e9d3b0≥ fc1b6d6de2208774efd2a20bf0daddb02d18b1e0 and < b19fc1d0be3c3397e5968fe2627f22e7f84673b1≥ fc1b6d6de2208774efd2a20bf0daddb02d18b1e0 and < b8fcae6d2e93c54cacb8f579a77d827c1c643eb5≥ fc1b6d6de2208774efd2a20bf0daddb02d18b1e0 and < f5c2c4eaaa5a8e7e0685ec031d480e588e263e59≥ fc1b6d6de2208774efd2a20bf0daddb02d18b1e0 and < d42ed4de6aba232d946d20653a70f79158a6535b | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Linux | Linux Kernel |
version 6.15-rc5version 6.15-rc7version 6.15-rc6version 6.15-rc4version 6.15-rc3version 6.15-rc2version 6.15-rc1≥ 6.13 and < 6.14.9 and 5 more≥ 6.7 and < 6.12.31≥ 6.2 and < 6.6.93≥ 5.16 and < 6.1.141≥ 5.11 and < 5.15.185≥ 5.5 and < 5.10.238 |
Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.8 | CVSS 3.1 | High | 2.8 | 5.9 | 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 8.8 | CVSS 3.1 | High | — | — | Linux via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| 7.8 | CVSS 3.1 | High | 1.8 | 5.9 | nvd@nist.gov via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 7.8 | CVSS 3.1 | High | — | — | GitHub, Inc. via GitHub Security Advisories |
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H (score shown at the top: nvd@nist.gov) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Local/physical vector: focus on endpoint telemetry (EDR) from affected hosts.
- Correlate service crashes/restarts with inbound traffic; repeated crashes may indicate attempts.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · linux/linux
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- Fix documented
- Affected products added · linux/linux kernel, debian/debian linux
- CVSS changed · 7.8
- Source status changed · → Modified
- Record created in this database
- 2025
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 2× References added · Oct 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026
References
11 on the record
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e279024617134c94fd3e37470156534d5f2b3472
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d42ed4de6aba232d946d20653a70f79158a6535b
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4a0fddc2c0d5c28aec8c262ad4603be0bef1938c
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f5c2c4eaaa5a8e7e0685ec031d480e588e263e59
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b19fc1d0be3c3397e5968fe2627f22e7f84673b1
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b8fcae6d2e93c54cacb8f579a77d827c1c643eb5
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/689a205cd968a1572ab561b0c4c2d50a10e9d3b0
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/10/msg00007.html
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-38052
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/10/msg00008.html
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-m3w6-rj5m-cfpp
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Critical CVE-2026-99999 ipv4: validate checksum_start before completing checksum 14h
- Unknown CVE-2026-98432 ipv4: free inet_opt and ireq_opt after an RCU grace period 14h
- Unknown CVE-2026-98424 wifi: cfg80211: undo netns switch if renaming the wiphy fails 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98425 wifi: mac80211: don't warn when an IBSS has no channel to scan 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98426 wifi: mwifiex: fix IRQ leak using wrong index in MSI-X error path 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98427 net/sched: codel: bound the dropping loop per dequeue call 1d
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2025-38052 is "net/tipc: fix slab-use-after-free Read in tipc_aead_encrypt_done", rated High. It affects Debian Linux (Debian); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 7.8 describes technical severity. EPSS 0.54% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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