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CVE Record

CVE-2025-38162: netfilter: nft_set_pipapo: prevent overflow in lookup table allocation

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nft_set_pipapo: prevent overflow in lookup table allocation When calculating the lookup table size, ensure the following multiplication does not overflow: - desc->field_len[] maximum value is U8_MAX multiplied by NFT_PIPAPO_GROUPS_PER_BYTE(f) that can be 2, worst case. - NFT_PIPAPO_BUCKETS(f->bb) is 2^8, worst case. - sizeof(unsigned long), from sizeof(*f->lt), lt in struct nft_pipapo_field. Then, use check_mul_overflow() to multiply by bucket size and then use check_add_overflow() to the alignment for avx2 (if needed). Finally, add lt_size_check_overflow() helper and use it to consolidate this. While at it, replace leftover allocation using the GFP_KERNEL to GFP_KERNEL_ACCOUNT for consistency, in pipapo_resize().

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

Linux nftables can miscalculate memory needed for a PIPAPO lookup table, potentially allocating too little memory. The supplied assessment rates the issue 7.8/high, with possible confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. Exploitation requires local access and low privileges; no user interaction is required.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority kernel update for affected systems, especially where untrusted or lower-privileged users have local access. It is less urgent than an unauthenticated remote flaw, but the stated potential impact spans data exposure, modification, and service disruption.

Technical view

CVE-2025-38162 is an integer-overflow flaw in nft_set_pipapo lookup-table sizing. Multiplication involving field length, grouping, bucket count, and element size can overflow before allocation; AVX2 alignment addition also requires checking. Stable fixes introduce multiplication and addition overflow checks through a consolidated helper.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to affected Linux kernels where the netfilter nftables PIPAPO allocation path is reachable. The supplied version data names releases from 5.6 through several later stable branches, but its formatting is insufficient for precise range determination. Confirm status through distribution or appliance-vendor advisories and backport records.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector describes local, low-complexity exploitation requiring low privileges and no user interaction. CISA KEV status is false, and the supplied sources provide no evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit. Absence from KEV does not establish that exploitation is impossible.

Researcher notes

The record does not provide a CWE, demonstrated crash, exploit primitive, or confirmed attack activity. Its affected-version presentation includes repeated commit identifiers and ambiguous release entries, so version-only conclusions are unreliable. Validate fixes by vendor package provenance or applicable stable commit, not solely the displayed kernel version.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply a vendor-supported kernel update containing the applicable stable fix for CVE-2025-38162.
  • Check distribution and appliance-vendor advisories for branch-specific fixed packages and reboot requirements.
  • If updating is delayed, follow vendor-approved mitigations; none are specified in the supplied sources.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions across Linux hosts, appliances, virtual machines, and managed images.
  • Compare package changelogs or source provenance against the referenced stable fixes, accounting for vendor backports.
  • Confirm updated kernels are running after required reboots, rather than merely installed.
  • Determine whether affected systems use nftables PIPAPO sets to refine remediation priority.
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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CVE-2025-38162 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
8Source 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-2025-38162Attack 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

siemens-SADPADP container
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173da, 3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173da, 3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173da, 3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173da, 3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173daunaffected
LinuxLinux5.6, 0, 6.1.167, 6.6.125, 6.12.34, 6.15.3, 6.16affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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