Linux Kernel up to 6.1.140/6.6.92/6.12.30/6.14.8 espintcp xfrm_state state issue

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
4.9$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.140/6.6.92/6.12.30/6.14.8. It has been classified as problematic. The affected element is the function xfrm_state of the component espintcp. This manipulation causes state issue. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2025-38097. There is no available exploit. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.140/6.6.92/6.12.30/6.14.8. It has been declared as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is the function xfrm_state of the component espintcp. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a state issue vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-371. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: espintcp: remove encap socket caching to avoid reference leak The current scheme for caching the encap socket can lead to reference leaks when we try to delete the netns. The reference chain is: xfrm_state -> enacp_sk -> netns Since the encap socket is a userspace socket, it holds a reference on the netns. If we delete the espintcp state (through flush or individual delete) before removing the netns, the reference on the socket is dropped and the netns is correctly deleted. Otherwise, the netns may not be reachable anymore (if all processes within the ns have terminated), so we cannot delete the xfrm state to drop its reference on the socket. This patch results in a small (~2% in my tests) performance regression. A GC-type mechanism could be added for the socket cache, to clear references if the state hasn't been used "recently", but it's a lot more complex than just not caching the socket.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-38097 since 04/16/2025. The exploitation appears to be difficult. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 12/16/2025).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 247122 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38097), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.141, 6.6.93, 6.12.31 or 6.14.9 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch e4cde54b46a87231c77256a633be1bef62687d69/b58a295d10065960bcb9d60cb8ca6ead9837cd27/9cbca30102028f9ad3d2098f935c4368f581fd07/74fd327767fb784c5875cf7c4ba1217f26020943 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (247122), EUVD (EUVD-2025-19766) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1452). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Affected

  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Dell Avamar
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • Dell NetWorker
  • Dell Secure Connect Gateway

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.9

VulDB Base Score: 4.6
VulDB Temp Score: 4.4
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: State issue
CWE: CWE-371
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

Nessus ID: 247122
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38097

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.1.141/6.6.93/6.12.31/6.14.9
Patch: e4cde54b46a87231c77256a633be1bef62687d69/b58a295d10065960bcb9d60cb8ca6ead9837cd27/9cbca30102028f9ad3d2098f935c4368f581fd07/74fd327767fb784c5875cf7c4ba1217f26020943

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
07/03/2025 +78 days Advisory disclosed
07/03/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
12/16/2025 +166 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38097 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38097
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-314683
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1452 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 07/03/2025 11:39
Updated: 12/16/2025 18:34
Changes: 07/03/2025 11:39 (58), 07/03/2025 11:53 (1), 07/31/2025 09:52 (7), 08/09/2025 19:44 (2), 08/23/2025 14:25 (1), 09/21/2025 15:21 (1), 11/09/2025 10:21 (1), 12/06/2025 01:18 (1), 12/16/2025 18:34 (12)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:6BE:103

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Interested in the pricing of exploits?

See the underground prices here!