Linux Kernel up to 6.16.0 netfilter lib/vsprintf.c nfnl_acct_find_get out-of-bounds

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4.4	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.147/6.6.101/6.12.41/6.15.9/6.16.0. This impacts the function nfnl_acct_find_get in the library lib/vsprintf.c of the component netfilter. Performing a manipulation results in out-of-bounds. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2025-38639. There is no exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.147/6.6.101/6.12.41/6.15.9/6.16.0. It has been classified as problematic. This affects the function nfnl_acct_find_get in the library lib/vsprintf.c of the component netfilter. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a out-of-bounds vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-125. The product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: xt_nfacct: don't assume acct name is null-terminated BUG: KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds in .. lib/vsprintf.c:721 Read of size 1 at addr ffff88801eac95c8 by task syz-executor183/5851 [..] string+0x231/0x2b0 lib/vsprintf.c:721 vsnprintf+0x739/0xf00 lib/vsprintf.c:2874 [..] nfacct_mt_checkentry+0xd2/0xe0 net/netfilter/xt_nfacct.c:41 xt_check_match+0x3d1/0xab0 net/netfilter/x_tables.c:523 nfnl_acct_find_get() handles non-null input, but the error printk relied on its presence.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-38639 since 04/16/2025. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 266176 (Amazon Linux 2023 : bpftool6.12, kernel6.12, kernel6.12-devel (ALAS2023-2025-1208)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.148, 6.6.102, 6.12.42, 6.15.10, 6.16.1 or 6.17-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch e18939176e657a3a20bfbed357b8c55a9f82aba3/58004aa21e79addaf41667bfe65e93ec51653f18/7c1ae471da69c09242834e956218ea6a42dd405a/58007fc7b94fb2702000045ff401eb7f5bde7828/df13c9c6ce1d55c31d1bd49db65a7fbbd86aab13/bf58e667af7d96c8eb9411f926a0a0955f41ce21 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 (266176) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1898). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Google Cloud Platform
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• NetApp AFF
• NetApp ActiveIQ Unified Manager
• SUSE openSUSE
• Dell Avamar
• NetApp FAS
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• Dell NetWorker
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway
• Dell ECS

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.0
• 6.1
• 6.1.147
• 6.2
• 6.3
• 6.4
• 6.5
• 6.6
• 6.6.101
• 6.7
• 6.8
• 6.9
• 6.10
• 6.11
• 6.12
• 6.12.0
• 6.12.1
• 6.12.2
• 6.12.3
• 6.12.4
• 6.12.5
• 6.12.6
• 6.12.7
• 6.12.8
• 6.12.9
• 6.12.10
• 6.12.11
• 6.12.12
• 6.12.13
• 6.12.14
• 6.12.15
• 6.12.16
• 6.12.17
• 6.12.18
• 6.12.19
• 6.12.20
• 6.12.21
• 6.12.22
• 6.12.23
• 6.12.24
• 6.12.25
• 6.12.26
• 6.12.27
• 6.12.28
• 6.12.29
• 6.12.30
• 6.12.31
• 6.12.32
• 6.12.33
• 6.12.34
• 6.12.35
• 6.12.36
• 6.12.37
• 6.12.38
• 6.12.39
• 6.12.40
• 6.12.41
• 6.13
• 6.14
• 6.15
• 6.15.0
• 6.15.1
• 6.15.2
• 6.15.3
• 6.15.4
• 6.15.5
• 6.15.6
• 6.15.7
• 6.15.8
• 6.15.9
• 6.16.0

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.4

VulDB Base Score: 3.5
VulDB Temp Score: 3.4
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Out-of-bounds
CWE: CWE-125 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Nessus ID: 266176
Nessus Name: Amazon Linux 2023 : bpftool6.12, kernel6.12, kernel6.12-devel (ALAS2023-2025-1208)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.1.148/6.6.102/6.12.42/6.15.10/6.16.1/6.17-rc1
Patch: e18939176e657a3a20bfbed357b8c55a9f82aba3/58004aa21e79addaf41667bfe65e93ec51653f18/7c1ae471da69c09242834e956218ea6a42dd405a/58007fc7b94fb2702000045ff401eb7f5bde7828/df13c9c6ce1d55c31d1bd49db65a7fbbd86aab13/bf58e667af7d96c8eb9411f926a0a0955f41ce21

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
08/22/2025 +128 days Advisory disclosed
08/22/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
05/28/2026 +279 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38639 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38639
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-321099
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1898 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service und Privilegieneskalation

Entryinfo

Created: 08/22/2025 23:34
Updated: 05/28/2026 22:02
Changes: 08/22/2025 23:34 (60), 09/22/2025 01:38 (7), 09/24/2025 03:21 (1), 09/30/2025 20:58 (2), 10/18/2025 01:45 (1), 10/26/2025 08:31 (1), 12/13/2025 06:28 (1), 01/07/2026 18:52 (12), 02/13/2026 21:16 (1), 05/28/2026 22:02 (3)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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

Discussion

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