CVE-2025-38525

Medium

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: rxrpc: Fix irq-disabled in local_bh_enable() The rxrpc_assess_MTU_size() function calls down into the IP layer to find out the MTU size for a route. When accepting an incoming call, this is called from rxrpc_new_incoming_call() which holds interrupts disabled across the code that calls down to it. Unfortunately, the IP layer uses local_bh_enable() which, config dependent, throws a warning if IRQs are enabled: WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 5544 at kernel/softirq.c:387 __local_bh_enable_ip+0x43/0xd0 ... RIP: 0010:__local_bh_enable_ip+0x43/0xd0 ... Call Trace: <TASK> rt_cache_route+0x7e/0xa0 rt_set_nexthop.isra.0+0x3b3/0x3f0 __mkroute_output+0x43a/0x460 ip_route_output_key_hash+0xf7/0x140 ip_route_output_flow+0x1b/0x90 rxrpc_assess_MTU_size.isra.0+0x2a0/0x590 rxrpc_new_incoming_peer+0x46/0x120 rxrpc_alloc_incoming_call+0x1b1/0x400 rxrpc_new_incoming_call+0x1da/0x5e0 rxrpc_input_packet+0x827/0x900 rxrpc_io_thread+0x403/0xb60 kthread+0x2f7/0x310 ret_from_fork+0x2a/0x230 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 ... hardirqs last enabled at (23): _raw_spin_unlock_irq+0x24/0x50 hardirqs last disabled at (24): _raw_read_lock_irq+0x17/0x70 softirqs last enabled at (0): copy_process+0xc61/0x2730 softirqs last disabled at (25): rt_add_uncached_list+0x3c/0x90 Fix this by moving the call to rxrpc_assess_MTU_size() out of rxrpc_init_peer() and further up the stack where it can be done without interrupts disabled. It shouldn't be a problem for rxrpc_new_incoming_call() to do it after the locks are dropped as pmtud is going to be performed by the I/O thread - and we're in the I/O thread at this point.

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2025-08-16
Last modified 2025-11-18
CVSS version 3.1
Patch available
Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

5.5

out of 10
Medium
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
None
Availability
High
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 6.14 and later are affected. Fixed in 6.15.8, 6.16 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 6.14
Fixed in
✓ 6.15.8 6.15.x ✓ 6.16

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2025-38525 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2025-38525?

    CVE-2025-38525 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10 . It affects Linux kernel versions from 6.14 onward and has been patched in 6.15.8 and 6.16. CVE-2025-38525 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • What is the CVSS score for CVE-2025-38525?

    CVE-2025-38525 has a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, rated Medium severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H .

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2025-38525?

    Yes — CVE-2025-38525 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.15.8 and 6.16. If you are running Linux kernel 6.14 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • Is CVE-2025-38525 actively exploited?

    No — CVE-2025-38525 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.