CVE-2025-38732

Medium

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nf_reject: don't leak dst refcount for loopback packets recent patches to add a WARN() when replacing skb dst entry found an old bug: WARNING: include/linux/skbuff.h:1165 skb_dst_check_unset include/linux/skbuff.h:1164 [inline] WARNING: include/linux/skbuff.h:1165 skb_dst_set include/linux/skbuff.h:1210 [inline] WARNING: include/linux/skbuff.h:1165 nf_reject_fill_skb_dst+0x2a4/0x330 net/ipv4/netfilter/nf_reject_ipv4.c:234 [..] Call Trace: nf_send_unreach+0x17b/0x6e0 net/ipv4/netfilter/nf_reject_ipv4.c:325 nft_reject_inet_eval+0x4bc/0x690 net/netfilter/nft_reject_inet.c:27 expr_call_ops_eval net/netfilter/nf_tables_core.c:237 [inline] .. This is because blamed commit forgot about loopback packets. Such packets already have a dst_entry attached, even at PRE_ROUTING stage. Instead of checking hook just check if the skb already has a route attached to it.

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2025-09-05
Last modified 2026-05-12
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 5.9 and later are affected. Fixed in 5.10.241, 5.15.190, 6.1.149, 6.6.103, 6.12.44, 6.16.4, 6.17 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 5.9
Fixed in
✓ 5.10.241 5.10.x ✓ 5.15.190 5.15.x ✓ 6.1.149 6.1.x ✓ 6.6.103 6.6.x ✓ 6.12.44 6.12.x ✓ 6.16.4 6.16.x ✓ 6.17

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2025-38732 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-2025-38732?

    CVE-2025-38732 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10 . It affects Linux kernel versions from 5.9 onward and has been patched in 5.10.241, 5.15.190, 6.1.149 and others. CVE-2025-38732 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • What is the CVSS score for CVE-2025-38732?

    CVE-2025-38732 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-2025-38732?

    Yes — CVE-2025-38732 has been patched. Fixed versions include 5.10.241, 5.15.190, 6.1.149 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 5.9 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • Is CVE-2025-38732 actively exploited?

    No — CVE-2025-38732 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.