CVE-2025-38097: espintcp: remove encap socket caching to avoid reference leak

Published Jul 3, 2025
·
Updated

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: xfrmstate -> enacpsk -> 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.

Affected Software

183 affected componentsFixes available
Linux Foundation Linux Kernel
Linux Linux kernel>=5.6<6.1.141
Linux Linux kernel>=6.2<6.6.93
Linux Linux kernel>=6.7<6.12.31
Linux Linux kernel>=6.13<6.14.9
Linux Linux kernel=6.15-rc1
Linux Linux kernel=6.15-rc2
Linux Linux kernel=6.15-rc3
Linux Linux kernel=6.15-rc4
Linux Linux kernel=6.15-rc5
Linux Linux kernel=6.15-rc6
Linux Linux kernel=6.15-rc7
Debian Debian Linux=11.0
debian/linux
6.1.176-16.1.190-16.12.107-16.12.113-17.2.12-17.2.13-1
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-hwe*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-oem*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-gke*
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-raspi2*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*
ubuntu/linux*
ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8<6.8.0-1046.49~22.04.1
6.8.0-1046.49~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8<6.8.0-1051.57~22.04.1
6.8.0-1051.57~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8<6.8.0-1046.53~22.04.1
6.8.0-1046.53~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8<6.8.0-1047.50~22.04.2
6.8.0-1047.50~22.04.2
ubuntu/linux-gke*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.8<6.8.0-100.100~22.04.1
6.8.0-100.100~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-ibm*
ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8<6.8.0-1044.44~22.04.1
6.8.0-1044.44~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg*
ubuntu/linux-kvm*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8<6.8.0-100.100.1~22.04.1
6.8.0-100.100.1~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-nvidia*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8<6.8.0-1046.49~22.04.1
6.8.0-1046.49~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-igx*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-oracle*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8<6.8.0-1043.44~22.04.1
6.8.0-1043.44~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-raspi*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8<6.8.0-100.100~22.04.1
6.8.0-100.100~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp*
ubuntu/linux-bluefield*
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8<6.8.1-1041.42~22.04.1
6.8.1-1041.42~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux<6.8.0-100.100
6.8.0-100.100
ubuntu/linux-aws<6.8.0-1046.49
6.8.0-1046.49
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14<6.14.0-1013.13~24.04.1
6.14.0-1013.13~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure<6.8.0-1046.52
6.8.0-1046.52
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<6.8.0-1046.53
6.8.0-1046.53
ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia*
ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14<6.14.0-1007.7
6.14.0-1007.7
ubuntu/linux-gcp<6.8.0-1047.50
6.8.0-1047.50
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14<6.14.0-1016.17~24.04.1
6.14.0-1016.17~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gke<6.8.0-1043.48
6.8.0-1043.48
ubuntu/linux-gkeop<6.8.0-1030.33
6.8.0-1030.33
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-ibm<6.8.0-1044.44
6.8.0-1044.44
ubuntu/linux-intel*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<6.8.0-100.100.1
6.8.0-100.100.1
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia<6.8.0-1046.49
6.8.0-1046.49
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency<6.8.0-1046.49.1
6.8.0-1046.49.1
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra<6.8.0-1020.20
6.8.0-1020.20
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14<6.14.0-1012.12
6.14.0-1012.12
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-oracle<6.8.0-1043.44
6.8.0-1043.44
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14<6.14.0-1013.13~24.04.1
6.14.0-1013.13~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-raspi<6.8.0-1047.51
6.8.0-1047.51
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14<6.14.0-32.32.1~24.04.1
6.14.0-32.32.1~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-xilinx<6.8.0-1023.24
6.8.0-1023.24
ubuntu/linux-bluefield<6.8.0-1016.20
6.8.0-1016.20
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime<6.8.0-2037.38
6.8.0-2037.38
ubuntu/linux-realtime<6.8.1-1041.42
6.8.1-1041.42
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14<6.14.0-1012.12~24.04.1
6.14.0-1012.12~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<6.8.0-1046.49+fips1
6.8.0-1046.49+fips1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<6.8.0-1046.52+fips1
6.8.0-1046.52+fips1
ubuntu/linux-fips<6.8.0-100.100+fips1
6.8.0-100.100+fips1
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<6.8.0-1047.50+fips1
6.8.0-1047.50+fips1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.1.176-1Fixed in 6.1.190-1Fixed in 6.12.107-1Fixed in 6.12.113-1Fixed in 7.2.12-1Fixed in 7.2.13-1
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.49~22.04.1
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1051.57~22.04.1
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.53~22.04.1
  5. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1047.50~22.04.2
  6. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-100.100~22.04.1
  7. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1044.44~22.04.1
  8. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-100.100.1~22.04.1
  9. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.49~22.04.1
  10. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1043.44~22.04.1
  11. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-100.100~22.04.1
  12. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.1-1041.42~22.04.1
  13. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-100.100
  14. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.49
  15. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.14.0-1013.13~24.04.1
  16. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.52
  17. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.53
  18. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.14.0-1007.7
  19. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1047.50
  20. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.14.0-1016.17~24.04.1
  21. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1043.48
  22. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1030.33
  23. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1044.44
  24. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-100.100.1
  25. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.49
  26. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.49.1
  27. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1020.20
  28. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.14.0-1012.12
  29. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1043.44
  30. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.14.0-1013.13~24.04.1
  31. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1047.51
  32. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.14.0-32.32.1~24.04.1
  33. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-xilinx to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1023.24
  34. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1016.20
  35. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-2037.38
  36. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.1-1041.42
  37. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.14.0-1012.12~24.04.1
  38. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.49+fips1
  39. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.52+fips1
  40. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-100.100+fips1
  41. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1047.50+fips1
  42. Configuration

    Remove or disable encap socket caching to avoid reference leaks when deleting network namespaces.

    Linux kernel espintcp encap socket caching = disabled
  43. Operational

    Delete the espintcp state, through a flush or individual delete, before removing the network namespace so the socket reference is dropped and the namespace can be deleted correctly.

Event History

Jul 3, 2025
CVE Published
via MITRE·08:13 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·08:13 AM
DescriptionSeverity
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·09:02 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Data Sourced
via OSV·09:15 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Event
via OSV·09:15 AM
Data Sourced
via NVD·09:15 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

Peer vulnerabilities

Found alongside the following vulnerabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2025-38097?

CVE-2025-38097 is classified as a moderate severity vulnerability due to the potential for reference leaks in the Linux kernel.

2

How do I fix CVE-2025-38097?

To fix CVE-2025-38097, update to the latest version of the Linux kernel that includes the patches related to this vulnerability.

3

What systems are affected by CVE-2025-38097?

CVE-2025-38097 affects systems running vulnerable versions of the Linux kernel that utilize the espintcp encap socket caching.

4

What is the impact of CVE-2025-38097?

The impact of CVE-2025-38097 could lead to resource leaks, specifically reference leaks when attempting to delete network namespaces.

5

Is CVE-2025-38097 publicly known?

Yes, CVE-2025-38097 is a publicly disclosed vulnerability, and users are encouraged to address it promptly.

Company

Resources

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