CVE-2025-38500

Local kernel crash via collect_md interface double-free

Published Aug 12, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux kernel 6.1 allows local users to crash the kernel through collect_md xfrm interface changes. xfrmi_changelink() misses the creation-only collect_md check, inserts the same interface into the xfrmi hash while retaining collect_md_xfrmi, and causes two frees during network-namespace teardown. The path requires CAP_NET_ADMIN in a network namespace; unprivileged user namespaces can supply it, and reuse of the freed net_device enables kernel memory disclosure, writes, or control-flow hijacking.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.15%
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 6.1 allows local users to crash the kernel through collect_md xfrm interface changes. xfrmi_changelink() misses the creation-only collect_md check, inserts the same interface into the xfrmi hash while retaining collect_md_xfrmi, and causes two frees during network-namespace teardown. The path requires CAP_NET_ADMIN in a network namespace; unprivileged user namespaces can supply it, and reuse of the freed net_device enables kernel memory disclosure, writes, or control-flow hijacking.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38500
Published
Aug 12, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 12, 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=6.1
  2. Affected versionversion=abc340b38ba25cd6c7aa2c0bd9150d30738c82d0 <5918c3f4800a3aef2173865e5903370f21e24f47
  3. Affected versionversion=abc340b38ba25cd6c7aa2c0bd9150d30738c82d0 <69a31f7a6a81f5ffd3812c442e09ff0be22960f1
  4. Affected versionversion=abc340b38ba25cd6c7aa2c0bd9150d30738c82d0 <a8d4748b954584ab7bd800f1a4e46d5b0eeb5ce4
  5. Affected versionversion=abc340b38ba25cd6c7aa2c0bd9150d30738c82d0 <a90b2a1aaacbcf0f91d7e4868ad6c51c5dee814b
  6. Affected versionversion=abc340b38ba25cd6c7aa2c0bd9150d30738c82d0 <bfebdb85496e1da21d3cf05de099210915c3e706

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.1; version=abc340b38ba25cd6c7aa2c0bd9150d30738c82d0 <5918c3f4800a3aef2173865e5903370f21e24f47; version=abc340b38ba25cd6c7aa2c0bd9150d30738c82d0 <69a31f7a6a81f5ffd3812c442e09ff0be22960f1; version=abc340b38ba25cd6c7aa2c0bd9150d30738c82d0 <a8d4748b954584ab7bd800f1a4e46d5b0eeb5ce4; version=abc340b38ba25cd6c7aa2c0bd9150d30738c82d0 <a90b2a1aaacbcf0f91d7e4868ad6c51c5dee814b; version=abc340b38ba25cd6c7aa2c0bd9150d30738c82d0 <bfebdb85496e1da21d3cf05de099210915c3e706

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux kernel CNACVSS: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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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