ipv6: reject malicious packets in ipv6_gso_segment()
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
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: ipv6: reject malicious packets in ipv6_gso_segment() syzbot was able to craft a packet with very long IPv6 extension headers leading to an overflow of skb->transport_header. This 16bit field has a limited range. Add skb_reset_transport_header_careful() helper and use it from ipv6_gso_segment() WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 5871 at ./include/linux/skbuff.h:3032 skb_reset_transport_header include/linux/skbuff.h:3032 [inline] WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 5871 at ./include/linux/skbuff.h:3032 ipv6_gso_segment+0x15e2/0x21e0 net/ipv6/ip6_offload.c:151 Modules linked in: CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 5871 Comm: syz-executor211 Not tainted 6.16.0-rc6-syzkaller-g7abc678e3084 #0 PREEMPT(full) Hardware name: Google Google Compute Engine/Google Compute Engine, BIOS Google 07/12/2025 RIP: 0010:skb_reset_transport_header include/linux/skbuff.h:3032 [inline] RIP: 0010:ipv6_gso_segment+0x15e2/0x21e0 net/ipv6/ip6_offload.c:151 Call Trace: <TASK> skb_mac_gso_segment+0x31c/0x640 net/core/gso.c:53 nsh_gso_segment+0x54a/0xe10 net/nsh/nsh.c:110 skb_mac_gso_segment+0x31c/0x640 net/core/gso.c:53 __skb_gso_segment+0x342/0x510 net/core/gso.c:124 skb_gso_segment include/net/gso.h:83 [inline] validate_xmit_skb+0x857/0x11b0 net/core/dev.c:3950 validate_xmit_skb_list+0x84/0x120 net/core/dev.c:4000 sch_direct_xmit+0xd3/0x4b0 net/sched/sch_generic.c:329 __dev_xmit_skb net/core/dev.c:4102 [inline] __dev_queue_xmit+0x17b6/0x3a70 net/core/dev.c:4679
Why it matters now
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 3.8 and later | 5.4.297, 5.10.241, 5.15.190, 6.1.148, 6.6.102, 6.12.42, 6.15.10, 6.16.1, 6.17 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 3.8 and later Fixed in 5.4.297, 5.10.241, 5.15.190, 6.1.148, 6.6.102, 6.12.42, 6.15.10, 6.16.1, 6.17 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 2
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.8 to before 5.4.297; 5.5 to before 5.10.241; 5.11 to before 5.15.190; 5.16 to before 6.1.148; 6.2 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:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.8 to before 5.4.297; 5.5 to before 5.10.241; 5.11 to before 5.15.190; 5.16 to before 6.1.148; 6.2 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:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.4.297, 5.10.241, 5.15.190, 6.1.148, 6.6.102, 6.12.42, 6.15.10, 6.16.1, 6.17
Red Hat 1 advisory
- 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
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:18318 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:18318 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:18318 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:18318 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:18318 |
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-38572
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-j327-57v5-q43v
References
Patch 9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5dc60b2a00ed7629214ac0c48e43f40af2078703
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3f638e0b28bde7c3354a0df938ab3a96739455d1
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/09ff062b89d8e48165247d677d1ca23d6d607e9b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/de322cdf600fc9433845a9e944d1ca6b31cfb67e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ef05007b403dcc21e701cb1f30d4572ac0a9da20
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5489e7fc6f8be3062f8cb7e49406de4bfd94db67
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/573b8250fc2554761db3bc2bbdbab23789d52d4e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ee851768e4b8371ce151fd446d24bf3ae2d18789
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d45cf1e7d7180256e17c9ce88e32e8061a7887fe
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- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2025-38572 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-38572 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-j327-57v5-q43v · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-38572 · 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