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CVE Record

CVE-2025-38325: ksmbd: add free_transport ops in ksmbd connection

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ksmbd: add free_transport ops in ksmbd connection free_transport function for tcp connection can be called from smbdirect. It will cause kernel oops. This patch add free_transport ops in ksmbd connection, and add each free_transports for tcp and smbdirect.

CriticalCVSS 9.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysiscritical

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A flaw in Linux’s ksmbd SMB server can cause a kernel crash when SMB Direct invokes the wrong network-transport cleanup function. This could disrupt file sharing and other services on the host. The supplied CVSS score is 9.8, but the cited material does not demonstrate code execution or system compromise.

Executive priority

Prioritize immediate validation on systems actively providing SMB through ksmbd, especially when exposed to untrusted networks. Expedite vendor-approved updates for confirmed affected hosts. Avoid assuming every Linux system is vulnerable or that remote code execution is established; the supplied technical description specifically confirms a kernel oops.

Technical view

During ksmbd connection cleanup, SMB Direct can call the TCP free_transport function, resulting in a kernel oops. The correction adds a free_transport operation to the ksmbd connection and separate cleanup implementations for TCP and SMB Direct. Four upstream kernel commits are cited as fixes.

Likely exposure

Potential exposure is limited to Linux systems using ksmbd on versions classified as affected, including 6.12.35, 6.15, 6.15.4, and 6.16. The listed version “0” is ambiguous. Distribution-specific package mapping cannot be determined reliably from the bundle alone.

Exploitation context

The bundle marks this CVE as absent from KEV and provides no evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit. Its CVSS vector models network access, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction, but that score is not proof that exploitation achieves the stated confidentiality and integrity impacts.

Researcher notes

The defect concerns incorrect transport-specific cleanup dispatch between TCP and SMB Direct. The source confirms a kernel oops, while the CVSS metadata claims complete confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact without supporting exploit analysis. Ambiguous version data and distribution backports require package-advisory or commit-ancestry verification.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply a vendor-supported kernel release containing the appropriate referenced upstream fix.
  • Consult distribution security advisories to confirm affected and corrected package versions.
  • If updating is delayed, follow vendor guidance for safely reducing ksmbd exposure.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory hosts providing SMB through the Linux ksmbd server.
  • Record each host’s running kernel version and distribution package build.
  • Determine whether SMB Direct is enabled and whether ksmbd is reachable from untrusted networks.
  • Compare distribution changelogs or kernel ancestry with the four referenced fix commits.
  • After updating, verify the corrected kernel is running.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

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.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2025-38325 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Critical
CVSS
9.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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
0ADP providers
5Source 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
9.8CVSS 3.1CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

9.8Critical
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-38325Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux1da8bd9a10ecd718692732294d15fd801c0eabb5, 1aec4d14cf81b7b3e7b69eb1cfa94144eed7138e, 21a4e47578d44c6b37c4fc4aba8ed7cc8dbb13de, 21a4e47578d44c6b37c4fc4aba8ed7cc8dbb13de, e59796fc80603bcd8569d4d2e10b213c1918edb4, 6.12.26, 6.14.4unaffected
LinuxLinux6.15, 0, 6.12.35, 6.15.4, 6.16affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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