CVE-2025-38616: tls: handle data disappearing from under the TLS ULP

Published Aug 22, 2025
·
Updated

In multiple locations, there is a possible use after free due to a race condition. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.

Other sources

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

tls: handle data disappearing from under the TLS ULP

TLS expects that it owns the receive queue of the TCP socket. This cannot be guaranteed in case the reader of the TCP socket entered before the TLS ULP was installed, or uses some non-standard read API (eg. zerocopy ones). Replace the WARNON() and a buggy early exit (which leaves anchor pointing to a freed skb) with real error handling. Wipe the parsing state and tell the reader to retry.

We already reload the anchor every time we (re)acquire the socket lock, so the only condition we need to avoid is an out of bounds read (not having enough bytes in the socket for previously parsed record len).

If some data was read from under TLS but there's enough in the queue we'll reload and decrypt what is most likely not a valid TLS record. Leading to some undefined behavior from TLS perspective (corrupting a stream? missing an alert? missing an attack?) but no kernel crash should take place.

— MITRE

Affected Software

141 affected componentsFixes available
Linux Linux kernel
Linux Linux kernel>=6.0<6.6.103
Linux Linux kernel>=6.7<6.12.43
Linux Linux kernel>=6.13<6.15.11
Linux Linux kernel>=6.16<6.16.2
Linux Linux kernel=6.17-rc1
Google Android
android/:linux_kernel:>=:0<:2026-03-05
:2026-03-05
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-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*
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-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*
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-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-raspi2*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8<6.8.0-1043.45~22.04.1
6.8.0-1043.45~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8<6.8.0-1044.50~22.04.1
6.8.0-1044.50~22.04.1
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-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8<6.8.0-1044.47~22.04.1
6.8.0-1044.47~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.8<6.8.0-88.89~22.04.2
6.8.0-88.89~22.04.2
ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8<6.8.0-1041.41~22.04.1
6.8.0-1041.41~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8<6.8.0-88.89.1~22.04.1
6.8.0-88.89.1~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8<6.8.0-1043.46~22.04.1
6.8.0-1043.46~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8<6.8.0-1040.41~22.04.1
6.8.0-1040.41~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8<6.8.0-88.89~22.04.1
6.8.0-88.89~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8<6.8.1-1038.39~22.04.1
6.8.1-1038.39~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux<6.8.0-88.89
6.8.0-88.89
ubuntu/linux-aws<6.8.0-1043.45
6.8.0-1043.45
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14<6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1
6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure<6.8.0-1044.50
6.8.0-1044.50
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.14<6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1
6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<6.8.0-1046.53
6.8.0-1046.53
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia<6.8.0-1029.32
6.8.0-1029.32
ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-gcp<6.8.0-1044.47
6.8.0-1044.47
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14<6.14.0-1020.21~24.04.1
6.14.0-1020.21~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gke<6.8.0-1040.45
6.8.0-1040.45
ubuntu/linux-gkeop<6.8.0-1027.30
6.8.0-1027.30
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-ibm<6.8.0-1041.41
6.8.0-1041.41
ubuntu/linux-intel*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<6.8.0-88.89.1
6.8.0-88.89.1
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia<6.8.0-1043.46
6.8.0-1043.46
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency<6.8.0-1043.46.1
6.8.0-1043.46.1
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra<6.8.0-1013.13
6.8.0-1013.13
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14<6.14.0-1016.16
6.14.0-1016.16
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-oracle<6.8.0-1040.41
6.8.0-1040.41
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14<6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1
6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-raspi<6.8.0-1043.47
6.8.0-1043.47
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14<6.14.0-36.36.1~24.04.1
6.14.0-36.36.1~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-xilinx<6.8.0-1020.21
6.8.0-1020.21
ubuntu/linux-bluefield<6.8.0-1013.17
6.8.0-1013.17
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime<6.8.0-2034.35
6.8.0-2034.35
ubuntu/linux-realtime<6.8.1-1038.39
6.8.1-1038.39
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14<6.14.0-1016.16~24.04.1
6.14.0-1016.16~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<6.8.0-1043.45+fips1
6.8.0-1043.45+fips1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<6.8.0-1044.50+fips1
6.8.0-1044.50+fips1
ubuntu/linux-fips<6.8.0-88.89+fips1
6.8.0-88.89+fips1
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<6.8.0-1044.47+fips1
6.8.0-1044.47+fips1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*
ubuntu/linux-vmware*

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade android/:linux_kernel: to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in :2026-03-05
  2. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1043.45~22.04.1
  3. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1044.50~22.04.1
  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 6.8.0-1044.47~22.04.1
  6. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-88.89~22.04.2
  7. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1041.41~22.04.1
  8. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-88.89.1~22.04.1
  9. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1043.46~22.04.1
  10. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1040.41~22.04.1
  11. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-88.89~22.04.1
  12. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.1-1038.39~22.04.1
  13. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-88.89
  14. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1043.45
  15. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1
  16. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1044.50
  17. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1
  18. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.53
  19. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1029.32
  20. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1044.47
  21. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.14.0-1020.21~24.04.1
  22. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1040.45
  23. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1027.30
  24. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1041.41
  25. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-88.89.1
  26. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1043.46
  27. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1043.46.1
  28. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1013.13
  29. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.14.0-1016.16
  30. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1040.41
  31. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1
  32. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1043.47
  33. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.14.0-36.36.1~24.04.1
  34. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1020.21
  35. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1013.17
  36. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-2034.35
  37. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.1-1038.39
  38. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.14.0-1016.16~24.04.1
  39. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1043.45+fips1
  40. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1044.50+fips1
  41. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-88.89+fips1
  42. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1044.47+fips1
  43. Compensating control

    In the TLS ULP receive-path handling, replace the WARN_ON() and buggy early exit with real error handling: when data disappears from under the TLS ULP or the socket lacks enough bytes for the previously parsed record length, wipe the parsing state and tell the reader to retry.

Event History

Aug 22, 2025
CVE Published
via MITRE·01:01 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·01:01 PM
DescriptionSeverity
Data Sourced
via OSV·02:15 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Data Sourced
via NVD·02:15 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Mar 1, 2026
Advisory Published
via OSV·12:00 AM
Mar 2, 2026
Data Sourced
via Android·12:00 AM
SeverityWeaknessAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2025-38616?

CVE-2025-38616 has been classified as a moderate severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel.

2

How do I fix CVE-2025-38616?

To fix CVE-2025-38616, update your Linux kernel to the latest stable version where the vulnerability has been resolved.

3

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2025-38616?

CVE-2025-38616 is a data handling vulnerability related to the TLS user-level protocol in the Linux kernel.

4

Which systems are affected by CVE-2025-38616?

CVE-2025-38616 affects various versions of the Linux kernel that utilize the TLS user-level protocol.

5

Is CVE-2025-38616 publicly known?

Yes, CVE-2025-38616 is a publicly documented vulnerability and is listed in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures database.

Company

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