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TI-2025-25438 Aliases CVE-2025-38097GHSA-jm67-vrwh-5hh6

espintcp: remove encap socket caching to avoid reference leak

Priority LOW 35Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 10 fixed, 2 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.

Summary

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: espintcp: remove encap socket caching to avoid reference leak The current scheme for caching the encap socket can lead to reference leaks when we try to delete the netns. The reference chain is: xfrm_state -> enacp_sk -> netns Since the encap socket is a userspace socket, it holds a reference on the netns. If we delete the espintcp state (through flush or individual delete) before removing the netns, the reference on the socket is dropped and the netns is correctly deleted. Otherwise, the netns may not be reachable anymore (if all processes within the ns have terminated), so we cannot delete the xfrm state to drop its reference on the socket. This patch results in a small (~2% in my tests) performance regression. A GC-type mechanism could be added for the socket cache, to clear references if the state hasn't been used "recently", but it's a lot more complex than just not caching the socket.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00205 10th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Linux (Linux): 5.10.270, 5.15.221, 6.1.141 +4Red Hat: 2 advisoriesRed Hat: 10 fixed, 2 without a fix

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Total

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
LinuxLinux5.6 and later5.10.270, 5.15.221, 6.1.141, 6.6.93, 6.12.31, 6.14.9, 6.15Patch availableCNA
  • Linux VendorLinux Affected 5.6 and later Fixed in 5.10.270, 5.15.221, 6.1.141, 6.6.93, 6.12.31, 6.14.9, 6.15 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 9

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*5.6 to before 6.1.141; 6.2 to before 6.6.93; 6.7 to before 6.12.31; 6.13 to before 6.14.9VulnerableLinux
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*6.15 rc1VulnerableLinux
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*6.15 rc2VulnerableLinux
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*6.15 rc3VulnerableLinux
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*6.15 rc4VulnerableLinux
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*6.15 rc5VulnerableLinux
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:*6.15 rc6VulnerableLinux
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:*6.15 rc7VulnerableLinux
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*11.0VulnerableDebian
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.6 to before 6.1.141; 6.2 to before 6.6.93; 6.7 to before 6.12.31; 6.13 to before 6.14.9 Vulnerable ·Linux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.15 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.15 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.15 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.15 rc4 Vulnerable ·Linux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.15 rc5 Vulnerable ·Linux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.15 rc6 Vulnerable ·Linux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.15 rc7 Vulnerable ·Linux
  • cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.0 Vulnerable ·Debian

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.270, 5.15.221, 6.1.141, 6.6.93, 6.12.31, 6.14.9, 6.15

Red Hat 2 advisories

  • RHSA-2026:18587 Released 2026-05-19 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    kernel security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-687.5.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-687.5.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-687.5.1.el9_8 +12
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) kernel-5.14.0-687.5.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-5.14.0-687.5.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-core-5.14.0-687.5.1.el9_8 +28
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-687.5.1.el9_8, libperf-5.14.0-687.5.1.el9_8
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-687.5.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-64k-5.14.0-687.5.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-64k-core-5.14.0-687.5.1.el9_8 +21
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-687.5.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-687.5.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-687.5.1.el9_8 +9
  • RHSA-2026:18134 Released 2026-05-19 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    kernel security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) kernel-64k-debug-devel-6.12.0-211.7.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-6.12.0-211.7.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-devel-6.12.0-211.7.1.el10_2 +12
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) kernel-6.12.0-211.7.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-6.12.0-211.7.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-core-6.12.0-211.7.1.el10_2 +29
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) kernel-tools-libs-devel-6.12.0-211.7.1.el10_2, libperf-6.12.0-211.7.1.el10_2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.7.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-6.12.0-211.7.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-core-6.12.0-211.7.1.el10_2 +21
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.7.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-core-6.12.0-211.7.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-debug-6.12.0-211.7.1.el10_2 +9

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:18134
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:18587
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:18134
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:18587
Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:18134
Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:18587
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:18134
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:18587
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:18134
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:18587
Not affected: 2 products
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-38097
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-jm67-vrwh-5hh6
  3. 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed

References

Patch 5

Advisory 1

Other 2

  • TI-2025-26358 tls: fix handling of zero-length records on the rx_list KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2026-38352 netfilter: bridge: make ebt_snat ARP rewrite writable KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2013-05264 The (1) get_user and (2) put_user API functions in the Linux kernel before 3.5.5 on the… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2022-00125 Integer overflow in kernel KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
  • TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
  • TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
See all 15278 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences