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CVE Record

CVE-2025-23142: sctp: detect and prevent references to a freed transport in sendmsg

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sctp: detect and prevent references to a freed transport in sendmsg sctp_sendmsg() re-uses associations and transports when possible by doing a lookup based on the socket endpoint and the message destination address, and then sctp_sendmsg_to_asoc() sets the selected transport in all the message chunks to be sent. There's a possible race condition if another thread triggers the removal of that selected transport, for instance, by explicitly unbinding an address with setsockopt(SCTP_SOCKOPT_BINDX_REM), after the chunks have been set up and before the message is sent. This can happen if the send buffer is full, during the period when the sender thread temporarily releases the socket lock in sctp_wait_for_sndbuf(). This causes the access to the transport data in sctp_outq_select_transport(), when the association outqueue is flushed, to result in a use-after-free read. This change avoids this scenario by having sctp_transport_free() signal the freeing of the transport, tagging it as "dead". In order to do this, the patch restores the "dead" bit in struct sctp_transport, which was removed in commit 47faa1e4c50e ("sctp: remove the dead field of sctp_transport"). Then, in the scenario where the sender thread has released the socket lock in sctp_wait_for_sndbuf(), the bit is checked again after re-acquiring the socket lock to detect the deletion. This is done while holding a reference to the transport to prevent it from being freed in the process. If the transport was deleted while the socket lock was relinquished, sctp_sendmsg_to_asoc() will return -EAGAIN to let userspace retry the send. The bug was found by a private syzbot instance (see the error report [1] and the C reproducer that triggers it [2]).

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A race condition in the Linux kernel’s SCTP networking code can make the kernel read memory after its transport object has been freed. A local, low-privileged user may trigger the condition through concurrent SCTP socket activity, potentially affecting system confidentiality, integrity, or availability. Exposure depends on the installed kernel and whether SCTP is usable.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority kernel update for exposed multi-user or SCTP-dependent systems. It is not documented as remotely exploitable or actively exploited, so emergency internet-wide response is unsupported. Use accelerated routine patching, with faster action where untrusted local users or containerized workloads can access SCTP.

Technical view

During sctp_sendmsg(), a full send buffer can temporarily release the socket lock. Another thread may remove the selected transport before the lock is reacquired, leaving message chunks referencing freed memory. Flushing the association outqueue then causes a use-after-free read. The kernel fix marks transports dead, retains a reference during revalidation, and returns EAGAIN when deletion is detected.

Likely exposure

Prioritize Linux systems matching the source-listed affected versions where local users or workloads can create and manipulate SCTP sockets. Network reachability alone is insufficient because the CVSS vector is local. Distribution kernels may contain backports, so version strings alone cannot conclusively establish vulnerability.

Exploitation context

The supplied CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8 with local access, low privileges, low complexity, and no user interaction. The defect was found through private syzbot testing, with a reproducer referenced by the kernel description. CISA KEV status is false, and the supplied sources provide no evidence of active exploitation.

Researcher notes

The critical sequence is transport selection, lock release while waiting for send-buffer space, concurrent transport removal, and later outqueue access. The remediation restores a dead-state marker and rechecks it while holding a transport reference. Exact affected-to-fixed mappings across distribution kernels remain incomplete in the supplied bundle and require vendor confirmation.

Mitigation direction

  • Install a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable upstream fix or confirmed backport.
  • Review Linux distribution security advisories for package-specific fixed versions and reboot requirements.
  • Prioritize multi-user systems and hosts running SCTP-dependent applications.
  • Where patching is delayed, consult vendor guidance for supported exposure-reduction measures.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions and identify systems where SCTP is available or actively used.
  • Compare distribution package revisions against vendor advisories, not upstream version numbers alone.
  • Confirm the installed kernel includes the relevant stable fix or an equivalent vendor backport.
  • After upgrading, verify the fixed kernel is running and SCTP-dependent services operate normally.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
5

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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CVE-2025-23142 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.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
12Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

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

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-23142Attack 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

CVECVE Program Container
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxdf132eff463873e14e019a07f387b4d577d6d1f9, df132eff463873e14e019a07f387b4d577d6d1f9, df132eff463873e14e019a07f387b4d577d6d1f9, df132eff463873e14e019a07f387b4d577d6d1f9, df132eff463873e14e019a07f387b4d577d6d1f9, df132eff463873e14e019a07f387b4d577d6d1f9, df132eff463873e14e019a07f387b4d577d6d1f9, df132eff463873e14e019a07f387b4d577d6d1f9, df132eff463873e14e019a07f387b4d577d6d1f9, 26e51e5287eed4d96ea66a3da95429f42940f013, 8b97e045bd6d37f96f161e4d371ae174148e1587, e044554e97e812eb257d073bcc130e0ea653858f, 8376fdc999be008f0e9918db52f1ed8c08f5a1c9, cd947138e8c31e8cfcd489c12e9b97271beb6e79, 3.18.128, 4.4.166, 4.9.142, 4.14.85, 4.19.6unaffected
LinuxLinux4.20, 0, 5.4.293, 5.10.237, 5.15.181, 6.1.135, 6.6.88, 6.12.24, 6.13.12, 6.14.3, 6.15affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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