Linux Kernel up to 6.17-rc1 sctp_rcv uninitialized pointer

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6.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.17-rc1. It has been rated as critical. The affected element is the function sctp_rcv. Performing a manipulation results in uninitialized pointer. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2025-38718. There is not any exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.17-rc1. This affects the function sctp_rcv. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a uninitialized pointer vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-824. The product accesses or uses a pointer that has not been initialized. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sctp: linearize cloned gso packets in sctp_rcv A cloned head skb still shares these frag skbs in fraglist with the original head skb. It's not safe to access these frag skbs. syzbot reported two use-of-uninitialized-memory bugs caused by this: BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in sctp_inq_pop+0x15b7/0x1920 net/sctp/inqueue.c:211 sctp_inq_pop+0x15b7/0x1920 net/sctp/inqueue.c:211 sctp_assoc_bh_rcv+0x1a7/0xc50 net/sctp/associola.c:998 sctp_inq_push+0x2ef/0x380 net/sctp/inqueue.c:88 sctp_backlog_rcv+0x397/0xdb0 net/sctp/input.c:331 sk_backlog_rcv+0x13b/0x420 include/net/sock.h:1122 __release_sock+0x1da/0x330 net/core/sock.c:3106 release_sock+0x6b/0x250 net/core/sock.c:3660 sctp_wait_for_connect+0x487/0x820 net/sctp/socket.c:9360 sctp_sendmsg_to_asoc+0x1ec1/0x1f00 net/sctp/socket.c:1885 sctp_sendmsg+0x32b9/0x4a80 net/sctp/socket.c:2031 inet_sendmsg+0x25a/0x280 net/ipv4/af_inet.c:851 sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:718 [inline] and BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in sctp_assoc_bh_rcv+0x34e/0xbc0 net/sctp/associola.c:987 sctp_assoc_bh_rcv+0x34e/0xbc0 net/sctp/associola.c:987 sctp_inq_push+0x2a3/0x350 net/sctp/inqueue.c:88 sctp_backlog_rcv+0x3c7/0xda0 net/sctp/input.c:331 sk_backlog_rcv+0x142/0x420 include/net/sock.h:1148 __release_sock+0x1d3/0x330 net/core/sock.c:3213 release_sock+0x6b/0x270 net/core/sock.c:3767 sctp_wait_for_connect+0x458/0x820 net/sctp/socket.c:9367 sctp_sendmsg_to_asoc+0x223a/0x2260 net/sctp/socket.c:1886 sctp_sendmsg+0x3910/0x49f0 net/sctp/socket.c:2032 inet_sendmsg+0x269/0x2a0 net/ipv4/af_inet.c:851 sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:712 [inline] This patch fixes it by linearizing cloned gso packets in sctp_rcv().

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-38718 since 04/16/2025. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 261554 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38718), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.4.297, 5.10.241, 5.15.190, 6.6.103, 6.12.43, 6.15.11, 6.16.2 or 6.17-rc2 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch d0194e391bb493aa6cec56d177b14df6b29188d5/03d0cc6889e02420125510b5444b570f4bbf53d5/cd0e92bb2b7542fb96397ffac639b4f5b099d0cb/ea094f38d387d1b0ded5dee4a3e5720aa4ce0139/7d757f17bc2ef2727994ffa6d5d6e4bc4789a770/fc66772607101bd2030a4332b3bd0ea3b3605250/1bd5214ea681584c5886fea3ba03e49f93a43c0e/fd60d8a086191fe33c2d719732d2482052fa6805 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 (261554) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1976). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Affected

  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Microsoft Azure
  • Dell Secure Connect Gateway
  • IBM QRadar SIEM
  • IBM Security Verify Access
  • Dell NetWorker

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.5

VulDB Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Temp Score: 5.3
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Uninitialized pointer
CWE: CWE-824 / CWE-908
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: 261554
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38718

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.4.297/5.10.241/5.15.190/6.6.103/6.12.43/6.15.11/6.16.2/6.17-rc2
Patch: d0194e391bb493aa6cec56d177b14df6b29188d5/03d0cc6889e02420125510b5444b570f4bbf53d5/cd0e92bb2b7542fb96397ffac639b4f5b099d0cb/ea094f38d387d1b0ded5dee4a3e5720aa4ce0139/7d757f17bc2ef2727994ffa6d5d6e4bc4789a770/fc66772607101bd2030a4332b3bd0ea3b3605250/1bd5214ea681584c5886fea3ba03e49f93a43c0e/fd60d8a086191fe33c2d719732d2482052fa6805

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
09/04/2025 +141 days Advisory disclosed
09/04/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
02/10/2026 +159 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38718 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38718
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-322581
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1976 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service

Entryinfo

Created: 09/04/2025 18:33
Updated: 02/10/2026 07:22
Changes: 09/04/2025 18:33 (58), 09/05/2025 20:19 (7), 09/07/2025 22:45 (2), 10/08/2025 19:59 (1), 12/10/2025 01:38 (1), 01/09/2026 17:18 (11), 01/15/2026 03:05 (1), 02/10/2026 07:22 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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