Linux Kernel up to 6.6.101/6.12.41/6.15.9/6.16.0 sock_recvmsg buffer overflow

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.101/6.12.41/6.15.9/6.16.0. Affected by this issue is the function sock_recvmsg. Executing a manipulation can lead to buffer overflow. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2025-38571. There is not any exploit available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.101/6.12.41/6.15.9/6.16.0. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects the function sock_recvmsg. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a buffer overflow vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-120. The product copies an input buffer to an output buffer without verifying that the size of the input buffer is less than the size of the output buffer, leading to a buffer overflow. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sunrpc: fix client side handling of tls alerts A security exploit was discovered in NFS over TLS in tls_alert_recv due to its assumption that there is valid data in the msghdr's iterator's kvec. Instead, this patch proposes the rework how control messages are setup and used by sock_recvmsg(). If no control message structure is setup, kTLS layer will read and process TLS data record types. As soon as it encounters a TLS control message, it would return an error. At that point, NFS can setup a kvec backed control buffer and read in the control message such as a TLS alert. Scott found that a msg iterator can advance the kvec pointer as a part of the copy process thus we need to revert the iterator before calling into the tls_alert_recv.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-38571 since 04/16/2025. The exploitation appears to be easy. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 12/15/2025).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 260116 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38571), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.6.102, 6.12.42, 6.15.10, 6.16.1 or 6.17-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch a55b3d15331859d9fdd261cfa6d34ca2aeb0fb95/c36b2fbd60e8f9c6f975522130998608880c93be/3ee397eaaca4fa04db21bb98c8f1d0c6cc525368/3feada5baf4dc96e151ff2ca54630e1d274e5458/cc5d59081fa26506d02de2127ab822f40d88bc5a 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 (260116) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1869). Once again VulDB remains the best source 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
  • IBM QRadar SIEM

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.6

VulDB Base Score: 8.0
VulDB Temp Score: 7.6
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Buffer overflow
CWE: CWE-120 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 260116
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38571

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.6.102/6.12.42/6.15.10/6.16.1/6.17-rc1
Patch: a55b3d15331859d9fdd261cfa6d34ca2aeb0fb95/c36b2fbd60e8f9c6f975522130998608880c93be/3ee397eaaca4fa04db21bb98c8f1d0c6cc525368/3feada5baf4dc96e151ff2ca54630e1d274e5458/cc5d59081fa26506d02de2127ab822f40d88bc5a

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
08/19/2025 +125 days Advisory disclosed
08/19/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
12/15/2025 +118 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38571 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38571
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-320596
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1869 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 08/19/2025 19:25
Updated: 12/15/2025 22:29
Changes: 08/19/2025 19:25 (58), 09/01/2025 16:34 (2), 09/22/2025 06:31 (7), 09/23/2025 05:48 (1), 09/24/2025 16:02 (1), 10/27/2025 00:25 (1), 11/01/2025 12:35 (1), 11/26/2025 21:33 (12), 12/15/2025 22:29 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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