mptcp: make fallback action and fallback decision atomic
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · Low · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 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: mptcp: make fallback action and fallback decision atomic Syzkaller reported the following splat: WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 7704 at net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 __mptcp_do_fallback net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 [inline] WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 7704 at net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 mptcp_do_fallback net/mptcp/protocol.h:1244 [inline] WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 7704 at net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 check_fully_established net/mptcp/options.c:982 [inline] WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 7704 at net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 mptcp_incoming_options+0x21a8/0x2510 net/mptcp/options.c:1153 Modules linked in: CPU: 1 UID: 0 PID: 7704 Comm: syz.3.1419 Not tainted 6.16.0-rc3-gbd5ce2324dba #20 PREEMPT(voluntary) Hardware name: QEMU Ubuntu 24.04 PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.16.3-debian-1.16.3-2 04/01/2014 RIP: 0010:__mptcp_do_fallback net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 [inline] RIP: 0010:mptcp_do_fallback net/mptcp/protocol.h:1244 [inline] RIP: 0010:check_fully_established net/mptcp/options.c:982 [inline] RIP: 0010:mptcp_incoming_options+0x21a8/0x2510 net/mptcp/options.c:1153 Code: 24 18 e8 bb 2a 00 fd e9 1b df ff ff e8 b1 21 0f 00 e8 ec 5f c4 fc 44 0f b7 ac 24 b0 00 00 00 e9 54 f1 ff ff e8 d9 5f c4 fc 90 <0f> 0b 90 e9 b8 f4 ff ff e8 8b 2a 00 fd e9 8d e6 ff ff e8 81 2a 00 RSP: 0018:ffff8880a3f08448 EFLAGS: 00010246 RAX: 0000000000000000 RBX: ffff8880180a8000 RCX: ffffffff84afcf45 RDX: ffff888090223700 RSI: ffffffff84afdaa7 RDI: 0000000000000001 RBP: ffff888017955780 R08: 0000000000000001 R09: 0000000000000000 R10: 0000000000000000 R11: 0000000000000000 R12: 0000000000000000 R13: ffff8880180a8910 R14: ffff8880a3e9d058 R15: 0000000000000000 FS: 00005555791b8500(0000) GS:ffff88811c495000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 000000110c2800b7 CR3: 0000000058e44000 CR4: 0000000000350ef0 Call Trace: <IRQ> tcp_reset+0x26f/0x2b0 net/ipv4/tcp_input.c:4432 tcp_validate_incoming+0x1057/0x1b60 net/ipv4/tcp_input.c:5975 tcp_rcv_established+0x5b5/0x21f0 net/ipv4/tcp_input.c:6166 tcp_v4_do_rcv+0x5dc/0xa70 net/ipv4/tcp_ipv4.c:1925 tcp_v4_rcv+0x3473/0x44a0 net/ipv4/tcp_ipv4.c:2363 ip_protocol_deliver_rcu+0xba/0x480 net/ipv4/ip_input.c:205 ip_local_deliver_finish+0x2f1/0x500 net/ipv4/ip_input.c:233 NF_HOOK include/linux/netfilter.h:317 [inline] NF_HOOK include/linux/netfilter.h:311 [inline] ip_local_deliver+0x1be/0x560 net/ipv4/ip_input.c:254 dst_input include/net/dst.h:469 [inline] ip_rcv_finish net/ipv4/ip_input.c:447 [inline] NF_HOOK include/linux/netfilter.h:317 [inline] NF_HOOK include/linux/netfilter.h:311 [inline] ip_rcv+0x514/0x810 net/ipv4/ip_input.c:567 __netif_receive_skb_one_core+0x197/0x1e0 net/core/dev.c:5975 __netif_receive_skb+0x1f/0x120 net/core/dev.c:6088 process_backlog+0x301/0x1360 net/core/dev.c:6440 __napi_poll.constprop.0+0xba/0x550 net/core/dev.c:7453 napi_poll net/core/dev.c:7517 [inline] net_rx_action+0xb44/0x1010 net/core/dev.c:7644 handle_softirqs+0x1d0/0x770 kernel/softirq.c:579 do_softirq+0x3f/0x90 kernel/softirq.c:480 </IRQ> <TASK> __local_bh_enable_ip+0xed/0x110 kernel/softirq.c:407 local_bh_enable include/linux/bottom_half.h:33 [inline] inet_csk_listen_stop+0x2c5/0x1070 net/ipv4/inet_connection_sock.c:1524 mptcp_check_listen_stop.part.0+0x1cc/0x220 net/mptcp/protocol.c:2985 mptcp_check_listen_stop net/mptcp/mib.h:118 [inline] __mptcp_close+0x9b9/0xbd0 net/mptcp/protocol.c:3000 mptcp_close+0x2f/0x140 net/mptcp/protocol.c:3066 inet_release+0xed/0x200 net/ipv4/af_inet.c:435 inet6_release+0x4f/0x70 net/ipv6/af_inet6.c:487 __sock_release+0xb3/0x270 net/socket.c:649 sock_close+0x1c/0x30 net/socket.c:1439 __fput+0x402/0xb70 fs/file_table.c:465 task_work_run+0x150/0x240 kernel/task_work.c:227 resume_user_mode_work include/linux/resume_user_mode.h:50 [inline] exit_to_user_mode_loop+0xd4 ---truncated---
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 5.10.228 to before 5.11; 5.15.169 to before 5.16 | 5.11, 5.16 | Patch available | CNA |
| Linux | Linux | 5.19 and later | 6.1.149, 6.6.101, 6.12.40, 6.15.8, 6.16 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 5.10.228 to before 5.11; 5.15.169 to before 5.16 Fixed in 5.11, 5.16 Patch available CNA
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 5.19 and later Fixed in 6.1.149, 6.6.101, 6.12.40, 6.15.8, 6.16 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 8
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.10.228 to before 5.11; 5.15.169 to before 5.16; 5.19 to before 6.1.149; 6.2 to before 6.6.101; 6.7 to before 6.12.40; 6.13 to before 6.15.8 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.16:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.16 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.16:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.16 rc2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.16:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.16 rc3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.16:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.16 rc4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.16:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.16 rc5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.16:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.16 rc6 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.10.228 to before 5.11; 5.15.169 to before 5.16; 5.19 to before 6.1.149; 6.2 to before 6.6.101; 6.7 to before 6.12.40; 6.13 to before 6.15.8 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.16:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.16 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.16:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.16 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.16:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.16 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.16:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.16 rc4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.16:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.16 rc5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.16:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.16 rc6 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.11, 5.16
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.1.149, 6.6.101, 6.12.40, 6.15.8, 6.16
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 3 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-38491
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-f3wq-3888-8q7g
- 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-16 Priority changed: LOW → MEDIUM
References
Patch 5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5586518bec27666c747cd52aabb62d485686d0bf
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/75a4c9ab8a7af0d76b31ccd1188ed178c38b35d2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/54999dea879fecb761225e28f274b40662918c30
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1d82a8fe6ee4afdc92f4e8808c9dad2a6095bbc5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f8a1d9b18c5efc76784f5a326e905f641f839894
More Linux Kernel vulnerabilities
- 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
Sources
- CVE-2025-38491 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-38491 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-f3wq-3888-8q7g · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-38491 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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