Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A flaw in Linux IPsec interface handling can corrupt kernel memory after a specially configured XFRM interface is changed and its network namespace is removed. The demonstrated result is a kernel crash. Because the CVSS assessment indicates local access and low privileges, affected multi-user or container-hosting systems deserve prompt review.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority kernel maintenance issue, especially on shared infrastructure and container hosts. Schedule prompt vendor-approved updates, but avoid declaring an emergency solely from this record: active exploitation is not established, and practical prerequisites remain incompletely documented.
Technical view
CVE-2025-38500 is a CWE-416 use-after-free involving collect_md XFRM interfaces. An ineffective validation path lets changelink add the special interface to a hash while another pointer still references it. Network-namespace teardown can then free it twice, producing a kernel BUG. The supplied CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8: AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Linux kernels within the affected version ranges that use collect_md XFRM interfaces. Exploitation requires local access according to CVSS. The source bundle does not fully document required interface-management permissions, distribution-specific package exposure, or exact fixed package versions, so asset-level verification is necessary.
Exploitation context
The supplied record is not in CISA KEV and provides no evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit. It documents a reproducible kernel crash during network-namespace cleanup. Although CVSS assigns high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, the bundle does not demonstrate privilege escalation or data compromise.
Researcher notes
The defect arises because xfrmi_changelink validation depended on xfrmi_locate, which does not return the collect_md interface. Validation was moved to the earlier netdev_priv-derived interface. Researchers should examine vendor backports and namespace privilege boundaries; the supplied evidence establishes double-free behavior and an oops, but not a demonstrated privilege-escalation chain.
Mitigation direction
- Apply a vendor-supported kernel update containing the referenced upstream stable fix.
- Check Linux distribution advisories for exact patched package versions before deployment.
- Prioritize shared, multi-user, container, and network-namespace-heavy systems.
- Restrict unnecessary local access and XFRM interface administration until patched.
Validation and detection
- Inventory running kernel and distribution package versions across Linux assets.
- Map each kernel build to vendor advisories and referenced stable commits.
- Identify systems using collect_md XFRM interfaces or network namespaces.
- Confirm the updated kernel is running after installation and reboot.
- Use safe regression testing to verify namespace teardown no longer crashes.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-416: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2025-38500 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- 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
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.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9LinuxVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a8d4748b954584ab7bd800f1a4e46d5b0eeb5ce4CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bfebdb85496e1da21d3cf05de099210915c3e706CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5918c3f4800a3aef2173865e5903370f21e24f47CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/69a31f7a6a81f5ffd3812c442e09ff0be22960f1CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a90b2a1aaacbcf0f91d7e4868ad6c51c5dee814bCVE reference, Linux
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/10/msg00008.htmlCVE reference, CVE
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Use After Free
Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.