Cleartext transmission of sensitive information in kernel
Priority LOW 37CWE-319Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Information disclosure
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · None
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 11 fixed, 3 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-319.
Summary
A flaw was found in the Linux kernel in versions before 5.9-rc7. Traffic between two Geneve endpoints may be unencrypted when IPsec is configured to encrypt traffic for the specific UDP port used by the GENEVE tunnel allowing anyone between the two endpoints to read the traffic unencrypted. The main threat from this vulnerability is to data confidentiality.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.02433 84th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Partial Red Hat: 3 advisoriesRed Hat: 11 fixed, 3 without a fix
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | kernel | Linux kernel versions before 5.9-rc7 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- kernel Vendor— Affected Linux kernel versions before 5.9-rc7 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 20
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 5.9.0 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.9.0 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.9.0 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.9.0 rc2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.9.0 rc3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.9.0 rc4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.9.0 rc5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.9.0 rc6 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 5.9.0 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.9.0 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.9.0 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.9.0 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.9.0 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.9.0 rc4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.9.0 rc5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.9.0 rc6 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
Show 10 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:netapp:solidfire_\&_hci_management_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:a:netapp:solidfire_\&_hci_storage_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 15.1 | Vulnerable | openSUSE |
| cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 15.2 | Vulnerable | openSUSE |
| cpe:2.3:o:netapp:hci_compute_node_bios:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:h:netapp:hci_compute_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* | 14.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 16.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 18.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 20.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
- cpe:2.3:a:netapp:solidfire_\&_hci_management_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:a:netapp:solidfire_\&_hci_storage_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 15.1 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
- cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 15.2 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
- cpe:2.3:o:netapp:hci_compute_node_bios:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:h:netapp:hci_compute_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* Versions 14.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 16.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 18.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 20.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
Remediation
Red Hat 3 advisories
- RHSA-2021:1578 Released 2021-05-18 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-305.el8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-305.el8, kernel-4.18.0-305.el8, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-305.el8 +19
- RHSA-2021:0856 Released 2021-03-16 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) bpftool-3.10.0-1160.21.1.el7, kernel-3.10.0-1160.21.1.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-1160.21.1.el7 +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-1160.21.1.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-1160.21.1.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) bpftool-3.10.0-1160.21.1.el7, kernel-3.10.0-1160.21.1.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-1160.21.1.el7 +11
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) kernel-debug-devel-3.10.0-1160.21.1.el7, kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-1160.21.1.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) bpftool-3.10.0-1160.21.1.el7, kernel-3.10.0-1160.21.1.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-1160.21.1.el7 +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-1160.21.1.el7
- RHSA-2021:0857 Released 2021-03-16 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time (v. 7) kernel-rt-3.10.0-1160.21.1.rt56.1158.el7, kernel-rt-debug-3.10.0-1160.21.1.rt56.1158.el7, kernel-rt-debug-devel-3.10.0-1160.21.1.rt56.1158.el7 +4
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time for NFV (v. 7) kernel-rt-3.10.0-1160.21.1.rt56.1158.el7, kernel-rt-debug-3.10.0-1160.21.1.rt56.1158.el7, kernel-rt-debug-devel-3.10.0-1160.21.1.rt56.1158.el7 +7
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:1578 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:1578 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:0856 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:0856 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:0856 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:0856 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:0856 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:0856 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:0856 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:0857 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time for NFV (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:0857 |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-25645
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-gpwj-xrhp-6hpw
References
Advisory 7
- openSUSE-SU-2020:1682
- openSUSE-SU-2020:1698
- DSA-4774
- [debian-lts-announce] 20201028 [SECURITY] [DLA 2417-1] linux-4.19 security update
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20201103-0004/
- [debian-lts-announce] 20201218 [SECURITY] [DLA 2494-1] linux security update
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/161229/Kernel-Live-Patch-Security-Notice-LSN-0074-1.html
Sources
- CVE-2020-25645 · CVE Program
- CVE-2020-25645 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-gpwj-xrhp-6hpw · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2020-25645 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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