CVE-2025-38476Network attack vector

Kernel memory disclosure and crash via stale header

Published Jul 28, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel RPL tunnel path allows remote attackers to disclose kernel memory or crash systems via IPv6 packets. The rpl_do_srh_inline function retains an ipv6_hdr pointer across skb_cow_head, whose head reallocation can free the referenced buffer before a 40-byte read. Reachability requires an encap rpl route; crafted packets can expose freed kernel data in forwarded headers, corrupt constructed headers, or panic the router.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.33%
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 the Linux kernel RPL tunnel path allows remote attackers to disclose kernel memory or crash systems via IPv6 packets. The rpl_do_srh_inline function retains an ipv6_hdr pointer across skb_cow_head, whose head reallocation can free the referenced buffer before a 40-byte read. Reachability requires an encap rpl route; crafted packets can expose freed kernel data in forwarded headers, corrupt constructed headers, or panic the router.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38476
Published
Jul 28, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 28, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=5.7
  2. Affected versionversion=a7a29f9c361f8542604ef959ae6627f423b7a412 <034b428aa3583373a5a20b1c5931bb2b3cae1f36
  3. Affected versionversion=a7a29f9c361f8542604ef959ae6627f423b7a412 <06ec83b6c792fde1f710c1de3e836da6e257c4c4
  4. Affected versionversion=a7a29f9c361f8542604ef959ae6627f423b7a412 <62dcd9d6e61c39122d2f251a26829e2e55b0a11d
  5. Affected versionversion=a7a29f9c361f8542604ef959ae6627f423b7a412 <8ba6c2362b85089b8972ac5f20b24fc71a4b8ffc
  6. Affected versionversion=a7a29f9c361f8542604ef959ae6627f423b7a412 <b640daa2822a39ff76e70200cb2b7b892b896dce
  7. Affected versionversion=a7a29f9c361f8542604ef959ae6627f423b7a412 <c09e21dfc08d8afb92d9ea3bee3457adbe3ef297
  8. Affected versionversion=a7a29f9c361f8542604ef959ae6627f423b7a412 <e8101506ab86dd78f823b7028f2036a380f3a12a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.7; version=a7a29f9c361f8542604ef959ae6627f423b7a412 <034b428aa3583373a5a20b1c5931bb2b3cae1f36; version=a7a29f9c361f8542604ef959ae6627f423b7a412 <06ec83b6c792fde1f710c1de3e836da6e257c4c4; version=a7a29f9c361f8542604ef959ae6627f423b7a412 <62dcd9d6e61c39122d2f251a26829e2e55b0a11d; version=a7a29f9c361f8542604ef959ae6627f423b7a412 <8ba6c2362b85089b8972ac5f20b24fc71a4b8ffc; version=a7a29f9c361f8542604ef959ae6627f423b7a412 <b640daa2822a39ff76e70200cb2b7b892b896dce; version=a7a29f9c361f8542604ef959ae6627f423b7a412 <c09e21dfc08d8afb92d9ea3bee3457adbe3ef297; version=a7a29f9c361f8542604ef959ae6627f423b7a412 <e8101506ab86dd78f823b7028f2036a380f3a12a

Published CVSS scores

9.8Linux CNACVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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