CVE-2025-38727: netlink: avoid infinite retry looping in netlink_unicast()

Published Sep 4, 2025
·
Updated

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

netlink: avoid infinite retry looping in netlinkunicast()

netlinkattachskb() checks for the socket's read memory allocation constraints. Firstly, it has:

rmem < READONCE(sk->skrcvbuf)

to check if the just increased rmem value fits into the socket's receive buffer. If not, it proceeds and tries to wait for the memory under:

rmem + skb->truesize > READONCE(sk->skrcvbuf)

The checks don't cover the case when skb->truesize + sk->skrmemalloc is equal to sk->skrcvbuf. Thus the function neither successfully accepts these conditions, nor manages to reschedule the task - and is called in retry loop for indefinite time which is caught as:

rcu: INFO: rcusched self-detected stall on CPU rcu: 0-....: (25999 ticks this GP) idle=ef2/1/0x4000000000000000 softirq=262269/262269 fqs=6212 (t=26000 jiffies g=230833 q=259957) NMI backtrace for cpu 0 CPU: 0 PID: 22 Comm: kauditd Not tainted 5.10.240 #68 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.17.0-4.fc42 04/01/2014 Call Trace: <IRQ> dumpstack lib/dumpstack.c:120 nmicpubacktrace.cold lib/nmibacktrace.c:105 nmitriggercpumaskbacktrace lib/nmibacktrace.c:62 rcudumpcpustacks kernel/rcu/treestall.h:335 rcuschedclockirq.cold kernel/rcu/tree.c:2590 updateprocesstimes kernel/time/timer.c:1953 tickschedhandle kernel/time/tick-sched.c:227 tickschedtimer kernel/time/tick-sched.c:1399 hrtimerrunqueues kernel/time/hrtimer.c:1652 hrtimerinterrupt kernel/time/hrtimer.c:1717 sysvecapictimerinterrupt arch/x86/kernel/apic/apic.c:1113 asmcallirqonstack arch/x86/entry/entry64.S:808 </IRQ>

netlinkattachskb net/netlink/afnetlink.c:1234 netlinkunicast net/netlink/afnetlink.c:1349 kauditdsendqueue kernel/audit.c:776 kauditdthread kernel/audit.c:897 kthread kernel/kthread.c:328 retfromfork arch/x86/entry/entry64.S:304

Restore the original behavior of the check which commit in Fixes accidentally missed when restructuring the code.

Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org).

Affected Software

13 affected components
Linux Linux kernel
Linux Linux kernel>=6.1.146<6.1.149
Linux Linux kernel>=6.6.99<6.6.103
Linux Linux kernel>=6.12.39<6.12.43
Linux Linux kernel>=6.15.7<6.15.11
Linux Linux kernel>=6.16.1<6.16.2
Linux Linux kernel=5.4.296
Linux Linux kernel=5.10.240
Linux Linux kernel=5.15.189
Linux Linux kernel=6.16
Linux Linux kernel=6.16-rc6
Linux Linux kernel=6.16-rc7
Debian Debian Linux=11.0

Event History

Sep 4, 2025
CVE Published
via MITRE·03:33 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·03:33 PM
Description
Data Sourced
via NVD·04:15 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2025-38727?

The severity of CVE-2025-38727 is moderate due to the potential for causing a denial of service through infinite retry looping.

2

How do I fix CVE-2025-38727?

To fix CVE-2025-38727, update your Linux kernel to the latest version where this vulnerability is patched.

3

What systems are affected by CVE-2025-38727?

CVE-2025-38727 affects various versions of the Linux kernel that implement netlink functionalities.

4

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2025-38727?

CVE-2025-38727 is categorized as a denial of service vulnerability due to an infinite loop in netlink_unicast().

5

When was CVE-2025-38727 published?

CVE-2025-38727 was published as part of security advisories related to the Linux kernel.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203