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CVE Record

CVE-2025-21864: tcp: drop secpath at the same time as we currently drop dst

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tcp: drop secpath at the same time as we currently drop dst Xiumei reported hitting the WARN in xfrm6_tunnel_net_exit while running tests that boil down to: - create a pair of netns - run a basic TCP test over ipcomp6 - delete the pair of netns The xfrm_state found on spi_byaddr was not deleted at the time we delete the netns, because we still have a reference on it. This lingering reference comes from a secpath (which holds a ref on the xfrm_state), which is still attached to an skb. This skb is not leaked, it ends up on sk_receive_queue and then gets defer-free'd by skb_attempt_defer_free. The problem happens when we defer freeing an skb (push it on one CPU's defer_list), and don't flush that list before the netns is deleted. In that case, we still have a reference on the xfrm_state that we don't expect at this point. We already drop the skb's dst in the TCP receive path when it's no longer needed, so let's also drop the secpath. At this point, tcp_filter has already called into the LSM hooks that may require the secpath, so it should not be needed anymore. However, in some of those places, the MPTCP extension has just been attached to the skb, so we cannot simply drop all extensions.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux networking cleanup flaw can keep a security-policy object referenced after a network namespace is deleted. Testing triggered a kernel warning during TCP over IPv6 IPComp cleanup. The supplied scoring rates potential impact high, but the technical narrative demonstrates a lifecycle inconsistency rather than a confirmed confidentiality, integrity, or availability compromise.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high patch-verification priority for systems on the listed Linux releases, especially those allowing low-privileged local access or using the described networking paths. It is not an exploitation-driven emergency based on supplied evidence. Require asset owners to confirm vendor backports because upstream versions and distribution package versions may not align.

Technical view

During deferred freeing of a received TCP socket buffer, its secpath can retain a reference to an xfrm_state beyond network-namespace teardown. The fix drops the secpath when TCP already drops the destination, after relevant LSM hooks have run, while preserving the newly attached MPTCP extension. The issue was reproduced with TCP over IPComp6 and namespace deletion.

Likely exposure

The bundle lists Linux 5.19, 6.1.130, 6.6.80, 6.12.17, 6.13.5, and 6.14 as affected, but also contains ambiguous version and commit entries. Exposure is most plausible where TCP over IPv6 IPComp and network-namespace teardown occur. Exact distribution kernel exposure requires vendor backport confirmation.

Exploitation context

CISA KEV status is false, and no supplied source reports active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates local, low-complexity, low-privilege, no-user-interaction conditions. However, the technical narrative documents a test-triggered warning and lingering reference; it does not establish a reliable exploitation path or explain the scored high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts.

Researcher notes

The narrative establishes an xfrm_state reference retained through skb secpath during deferred freeing and namespace teardown. It does not explain how confidentiality or integrity compromise occurs, nor how the assigned CWE-476 null-pointer category applies. The CVSS impact assumptions and exact affected-version boundaries therefore need independent validation.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify deployed kernels and exact distributor package builds; prioritize versions listed as affected in the CVE record.
  • Apply the vendor-supported kernel update containing the applicable stable fix, then reboot into that kernel.
  • Consult distribution or appliance advisories for backport status when package versions differ from upstream numbering.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm the running kernel, not merely the installed package, is the remediated build.
  • Verify the vendor changelog or source includes the applicable referenced stable-kernel fix.
  • Review kernel logs for xfrm6_tunnel_net_exit warnings associated with network-namespace deletion.
  • In a controlled environment, repeat relevant namespace cleanup tests and confirm the warning no longer occurs.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
7

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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ATT&CK lookup starting points

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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-476: Exact CWE lookup

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2025-21864 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

2CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
3ADP providers
9Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

CVSS vector scores

2 official scores

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Linux
5.5CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-21864Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
cvssV3_1other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container
siemens-SADPADP container
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux68822bdf76f10c3dc80609d4e2cdc1e847429086, 68822bdf76f10c3dc80609d4e2cdc1e847429086, 68822bdf76f10c3dc80609d4e2cdc1e847429086, 68822bdf76f10c3dc80609d4e2cdc1e847429086, 68822bdf76f10c3dc80609d4e2cdc1e847429086unaffected
LinuxLinux5.19, 0, 6.1.130, 6.6.80, 6.12.17, 6.13.5, 6.14affected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-476 · source CWE mapping

NULL Pointer Dereference

NULL Pointer Dereference represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.