CVE-2025-38616

High

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tls: handle data disappearing from under the TLS ULP TLS expects that it owns the receive queue of the TCP socket. This cannot be guaranteed in case the reader of the TCP socket entered before the TLS ULP was installed, or uses some non-standard read API (eg. zerocopy ones). Replace the WARN_ON() and a buggy early exit (which leaves anchor pointing to a freed skb) with real error handling. Wipe the parsing state and tell the reader to retry. We already reload the anchor every time we (re)acquire the socket lock, so the only condition we need to avoid is an out of bounds read (not having enough bytes in the socket for previously parsed record len). If some data was read from under TLS but there's enough in the queue we'll reload and decrypt what is most likely not a valid TLS record. Leading to some undefined behavior from TLS perspective (corrupting a stream? missing an alert? missing an attack?) but no kernel crash should take place.

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2025-08-22
Last modified 2025-11-26
CVSS version 3.1
Patch available
Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

7.1

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

Weakness type

CWE-125

CVE-2025-38616 is a Out-of-bounds Read vulnerability

What is Out-of-bounds Read?

The product reads data past the end or before the beginning of the intended buffer. Learn more on MITRE CWE

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 6.0 and later are affected. Fixed in 6.6.103, 6.12.43, 6.15.11, 6.16.2, 6.17 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 6.0
Fixed in
✓ 6.6.103 6.6.x ✓ 6.12.43 6.12.x ✓ 6.15.11 6.15.x ✓ 6.16.2 6.16.x ✓ 6.17

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2025-38616 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

5 patch commits total View all on NVD

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2025-38616?

    CVE-2025-38616 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.1 out of 10 , classified as an Out-of-bounds Read flaw (CWE-125) . It affects Linux kernel versions from 6.0 onward and has been patched in 6.6.103, 6.12.43, 6.15.11 and others. CVE-2025-38616 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • What is the CVSS score for CVE-2025-38616?

    CVE-2025-38616 has a CVSS score of 7.1 out of 10, rated High severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H .

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2025-38616?

    Yes — CVE-2025-38616 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.6.103, 6.12.43, 6.15.11 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 6.0 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • Is CVE-2025-38616 actively exploited?

    No — CVE-2025-38616 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.

  • What is Out-of-bounds Read (CWE-125)?

    The product reads data past the end or before the beginning of the intended buffer. View CWE-125 on MITRE CWE →

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