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CVE Record

CVE-2025-38377: rose: fix dangling neighbour pointers in rose_rt_device_down()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: rose: fix dangling neighbour pointers in rose_rt_device_down() There are two bugs in rose_rt_device_down() that can cause use-after-free: 1. The loop bound `t->count` is modified within the loop, which can cause the loop to terminate early and miss some entries. 2. When removing an entry from the neighbour array, the subsequent entries are moved up to fill the gap, but the loop index `i` is still incremented, causing the next entry to be skipped. For example, if a node has three neighbours (A, A, B) with count=3 and A is being removed, the second A is not checked. i=0: (A, A, B) -> (A, B) with count=2 ^ checked i=1: (A, B) -> (A, B) with count=2 ^ checked (B, not A!) i=2: (doesn't occur because i < count is false) This leaves the second A in the array with count=2, but the rose_neigh structure has been freed. Code that accesses these entries assumes that the first `count` entries are valid pointers, causing a use-after-free when it accesses the dangling pointer. Fix both issues by iterating over the array in reverse order with a fixed loop bound. This ensures that all entries are examined and that the removal of an entry doesn't affect subsequent iterations.

HighCVSS 8.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux kernel routing cleanup flaw can leave freed ROSE neighbour objects referenced after a network device goes down. Later access may corrupt memory, crash the system, or potentially compromise confidentiality and integrity. Actual risk depends on whether the affected ROSE networking path is present and used.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority kernel maintenance issue on systems using ROSE networking. Expedite vendor updates for exposed or operationally important hosts; use normal accelerated patching elsewhere after confirming applicability. There is no source-backed basis for declaring an active emergency.

Technical view

Two loop errors in rose_rt_device_down() can skip duplicate neighbour entries while compacting an array. The associated rose_neigh object is then freed, leaving a dangling pointer within the valid entry count. Subsequent access causes a use-after-free. Linux stable commits correct the logic by iterating backward with a fixed bound.

Likely exposure

Exposure requires an affected Linux kernel and execution of the ROSE device-down cleanup path with relevant neighbour entries. The supplied version data is ambiguous, so assess distribution kernels by vendor advisory and fixed-commit inclusion rather than version strings alone.

Exploitation context

CVSS 3.1 scores this 8.8 with adjacent-network reach, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction. The bundle reports no CISA KEV listing and provides no evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit. Practical triggering conditions are not fully documented.

Researcher notes

The vulnerable state involves duplicate references surviving neighbour-array compaction during device teardown. Both a shrinking loop bound and unconditional index increment contribute to skipped entries. The published fix changes traversal semantics. The supplied sources do not establish reliable exploitation, trigger reachability, or downstream package boundaries for every distribution.

Mitigation direction

  • Install a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable Linux stable fix.
  • Use the distribution advisories to identify corrected packages for each deployed release.
  • Prioritize systems where ROSE networking is configured or operationally required.
  • If immediate updating is impossible, obtain risk-reduction guidance from the Linux distribution vendor.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across physical hosts, virtual machines, and appliances.
  • Check whether each downstream kernel contains the relevant stable fix commit.
  • Determine whether ROSE networking is available, configured, or actively used.
  • Review kernel logs for related memory faults or crashes without treating them as proof of exploitation.
  • After updating, confirm the corrected kernel is running following any required reboot.
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-2025-38377 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
8.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/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
1ADP providers
11Source 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
8.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.85.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

8.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-38377Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/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.

ADP provider summaries

CVECVE Program Container
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2unaffected
LinuxLinux2.6.12, 0, 5.4.296, 5.10.240, 5.15.187, 6.1.144, 6.6.97, 6.12.37, 6.15.6, 6.16affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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