CVE-2025-38052Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Kernel memory corruption via stale TIPC crypto reference

Published Jun 18, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux kernel TIPC encryption allows remote authenticated users to corrupt kernel memory through crafted peer traffic. During asynchronous AEAD completion, tipc_aead_encrypt_done dereferences a tipc_crypto object after namespace deletion frees it because the encrypt path fails to retain the network-namespace reference. Low-privileged namespace access and an enabled encrypted TIPC bearer are required; successful exploitation can disclose or corrupt kernel memory or panic the host.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.50%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Linux kernel TIPC encryption allows remote authenticated users to corrupt kernel memory through crafted peer traffic. During asynchronous AEAD completion, tipc_aead_encrypt_done dereferences a tipc_crypto object after namespace deletion frees it because the encrypt path fails to retain the network-namespace reference. Low-privileged namespace access and an enabled encrypted TIPC bearer are required; successful exploitation can disclose or corrupt kernel memory or panic the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38052
Published
Jun 18, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 18, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=5.5
  2. Affected versionversion=fc1b6d6de2208774efd2a20bf0daddb02d18b1e0 <4a0fddc2c0d5c28aec8c262ad4603be0bef1938c
  3. Affected versionversion=fc1b6d6de2208774efd2a20bf0daddb02d18b1e0 <689a205cd968a1572ab561b0c4c2d50a10e9d3b0
  4. Affected versionversion=fc1b6d6de2208774efd2a20bf0daddb02d18b1e0 <b19fc1d0be3c3397e5968fe2627f22e7f84673b1
  5. Affected versionversion=fc1b6d6de2208774efd2a20bf0daddb02d18b1e0 <b8fcae6d2e93c54cacb8f579a77d827c1c643eb5
  6. Affected versionversion=fc1b6d6de2208774efd2a20bf0daddb02d18b1e0 <d42ed4de6aba232d946d20653a70f79158a6535b
  7. Affected versionversion=fc1b6d6de2208774efd2a20bf0daddb02d18b1e0 <e279024617134c94fd3e37470156534d5f2b3472
  8. Affected versionversion=fc1b6d6de2208774efd2a20bf0daddb02d18b1e0 <f5c2c4eaaa5a8e7e0685ec031d480e588e263e59

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.5; version=fc1b6d6de2208774efd2a20bf0daddb02d18b1e0 <4a0fddc2c0d5c28aec8c262ad4603be0bef1938c; version=fc1b6d6de2208774efd2a20bf0daddb02d18b1e0 <689a205cd968a1572ab561b0c4c2d50a10e9d3b0; version=fc1b6d6de2208774efd2a20bf0daddb02d18b1e0 <b19fc1d0be3c3397e5968fe2627f22e7f84673b1; version=fc1b6d6de2208774efd2a20bf0daddb02d18b1e0 <b8fcae6d2e93c54cacb8f579a77d827c1c643eb5; version=fc1b6d6de2208774efd2a20bf0daddb02d18b1e0 <d42ed4de6aba232d946d20653a70f79158a6535b; version=fc1b6d6de2208774efd2a20bf0daddb02d18b1e0 <e279024617134c94fd3e37470156534d5f2b3472; version=fc1b6d6de2208774efd2a20bf0daddb02d18b1e0 <f5c2c4eaaa5a8e7e0685ec031d480e588e263e59

Published CVSS scores

5.7UbuntuCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
8.8Linux kernel CVE teamCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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