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CVE Record

CVE-2025-38079: crypto: algif_hash - fix double free in hash_accept

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: crypto: algif_hash - fix double free in hash_accept If accept(2) is called on socket type algif_hash with MSG_MORE flag set and crypto_ahash_import fails, sk2 is freed. However, it is also freed in af_alg_release, leading to slab-use-after-free error.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A local, low-privileged user can trigger faulty Linux kernel cryptographic-socket cleanup, causing the same object to be freed twice. The resulting kernel memory corruption could compromise system confidentiality, integrity, or availability. Network-only attackers are not indicated by the supplied CVSS vector.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority kernel update for multi-user, shared-compute, and tenant-facing Linux systems. Schedule other affected hosts through normal urgent patching. This is not evidenced as remotely exploitable or actively exploited, so urgency should reflect local-access exposure and operational criticality.

Technical view

In algif_hash, accept(2) on an AF_ALG hash socket with MSG_MORE can encounter a crypto_ahash_import failure. The error path frees sk2, after which af_alg_release frees it again, producing a slab use-after-free. The supplied CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8 with local access, low complexity, low privileges, and no user interaction.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux systems running an affected kernel where a low-privileged local user or workload can reach the vulnerable AF_ALG hash-socket path. Prioritize shared hosts, systems permitting untrusted local execution, and tenant workloads. The flattened version information does not reliably identify every affected distribution package; confirm against kernel and distribution advisories.

Exploitation context

The supplied record does not establish active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV in the bundle. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access. Memory corruption is confirmed, but no public exploit capability or observed attack activity is established by these sources.

Researcher notes

The failure chain is specific: MSG_MORE reaches hash_accept, crypto_ahash_import fails, sk2 is freed on the error path, then af_alg_release frees it again. Stable-tree commits document corrections across branches. The bundle lacks reliable package-level range semantics and does not demonstrate practical privilege escalation, exploit availability, or attacks in the wild.

Mitigation direction

  • Install the corrected kernel package supplied by your Linux distribution or product vendor.
  • Review the referenced stable-kernel commits when maintaining custom or independently built kernels.
  • Prioritize shared systems and hosts permitting untrusted low-privileged code execution.
  • Reboot into the updated kernel and verify the running version afterward.
  • Check vendor guidance where package-to-upstream version mapping remains unclear.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions across Linux hosts, containers' hosts, appliances, and custom images.
  • Compare each kernel package against its distribution advisory and referenced stable-branch correction.
  • Confirm patched systems booted the intended updated kernel, not merely installed it.
  • Review exposure to untrusted local users or workloads capable of accessing AF_ALG sockets.
  • Monitor kernel logs for slab use-after-free reports or unexplained crashes; absence does not prove safety.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
12

Public sources used

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

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

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CVE-2025-38079 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
3ADP providers
12Source links

SSVC decision data

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

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-2025-38079Attack 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
siemens-SADPADP container
CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxfe869cdb89c95d060c77eea20204d6c91f233b53, fe869cdb89c95d060c77eea20204d6c91f233b53, fe869cdb89c95d060c77eea20204d6c91f233b53, fe869cdb89c95d060c77eea20204d6c91f233b53, fe869cdb89c95d060c77eea20204d6c91f233b53, fe869cdb89c95d060c77eea20204d6c91f233b53, fe869cdb89c95d060c77eea20204d6c91f233b53, fe869cdb89c95d060c77eea20204d6c91f233b53unaffected
LinuxLinux2.6.38, 0, 5.4.294, 5.10.238, 5.15.185, 6.1.141, 6.6.93, 6.12.31, 6.14.9, 6.15affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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