sunrpc: fix client side handling of tls alerts
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Low · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 15 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: sunrpc: fix client side handling of tls alerts A security exploit was discovered in NFS over TLS in tls_alert_recv due to its assumption that there is valid data in the msghdr's iterator's kvec. Instead, this patch proposes the rework how control messages are setup and used by sock_recvmsg(). If no control message structure is setup, kTLS layer will read and process TLS data record types. As soon as it encounters a TLS control message, it would return an error. At that point, NFS can setup a kvec backed control buffer and read in the control message such as a TLS alert. Scott found that a msg iterator can advance the kvec pointer as a part of the copy process thus we need to revert the iterator before calling into the tls_alert_recv.
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 | 6.5 and later | 6.6.102, 6.12.42, 6.15.10, 6.16.1, 6.17 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 6.5 and later Fixed in 6.6.102, 6.12.42, 6.15.10, 6.16.1, 6.17 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 to before 6.6.102; 6.7 to before 6.12.42; 6.13 to before 6.15.10; 6.16 to before 6.16.1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 to before 6.6.102; 6.7 to before 6.12.42; 6.13 to before 6.15.10; 6.16 to before 6.16.1 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.6.102, 6.12.42, 6.15.10, 6.16.1, 6.17
Red Hat 4 advisories
- RHSA-2025:21112 Released 2025-11-12 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-611.7.1.el9_7, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-611.7.1.el9_7, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-611.7.1.el9_7 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) kernel-5.14.0-611.7.1.el9_7, kernel-64k-5.14.0-611.7.1.el9_7, kernel-64k-core-5.14.0-611.7.1.el9_7 +28
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-611.7.1.el9_7, libperf-5.14.0-611.7.1.el9_7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-611.7.1.el9_7, kernel-rt-64k-5.14.0-611.7.1.el9_7, kernel-rt-64k-core-5.14.0-611.7.1.el9_7 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-611.7.1.el9_7, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-611.7.1.el9_7, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-611.7.1.el9_7 +9
- RHSA-2025:19104 Released 2025-10-27 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.4) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-427.96.1.el9_4, libperf-5.14.0-427.96.1.el9_4
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.4) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-427.96.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-427.96.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-427.96.1.el9_4 +11
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.4) bpftool-7.3.0-427.96.1.el9_4, kernel-5.14.0-427.96.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-5.14.0-427.96.1.el9_4 +29
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.4) kernel-rt-5.14.0-427.96.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-427.96.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-427.96.1.el9_4 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.4) kernel-rt-5.14.0-427.96.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-427.96.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-427.96.1.el9_4 +11
- RHSA-2025:18318 Released 2025-10-20 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) kernel-64k-debug-devel-6.12.0-55.40.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-6.12.0-55.40.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-devel-6.12.0-55.40.1.el10_0 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) kernel-6.12.0-55.40.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-6.12.0-55.40.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-core-6.12.0-55.40.1.el10_0 +28
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) kernel-tools-libs-devel-6.12.0-55.40.1.el10_0, libperf-6.12.0-55.40.1.el10_0
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-55.40.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-64k-6.12.0-55.40.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-64k-core-6.12.0-55.40.1.el10_0 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-55.40.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-core-6.12.0-55.40.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-debug-6.12.0-55.40.1.el10_0 +11
Show 1 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2025:18281 Released 2025-10-20 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-570.55.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-570.55.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-570.55.1.el9_6 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) kernel-5.14.0-570.55.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-5.14.0-570.55.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-core-5.14.0-570.55.1.el9_6 +28
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-570.55.1.el9_6, libperf-5.14.0-570.55.1.el9_6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-570.55.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-64k-5.14.0-570.55.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-64k-core-5.14.0-570.55.1.el9_6 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-570.55.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-570.55.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-570.55.1.el9_6 +11
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:19104 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:18318 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:18281, RHSA-2025:21112 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:19104 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:18318 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:18281, RHSA-2025:21112 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:19104 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:18318 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:18281, RHSA-2025:21112 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:18318 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:18281, RHSA-2025:21112 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:19104 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:18318 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:18281, RHSA-2025:21112 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:19104 |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-38571
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-r3wq-5xjj-hj39
- 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-16 Priority changed: LOW → MEDIUM
References
Patch 5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a55b3d15331859d9fdd261cfa6d34ca2aeb0fb95
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c36b2fbd60e8f9c6f975522130998608880c93be
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3ee397eaaca4fa04db21bb98c8f1d0c6cc525368
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3feada5baf4dc96e151ff2ca54630e1d274e5458
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cc5d59081fa26506d02de2127ab822f40d88bc5a
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-2025-38571 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-38571 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-r3wq-5xjj-hj39 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-38571 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences