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CVE Record

CVE-2025-39984: net: tun: Update napi->skb after XDP process

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: tun: Update napi->skb after XDP process The syzbot report a UAF issue: BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in skb_reset_mac_header include/linux/skbuff.h:3150 [inline] BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in napi_frags_skb net/core/gro.c:723 [inline] BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in napi_gro_frags+0x6e/0x1030 net/core/gro.c:758 Read of size 8 at addr ffff88802ef22c18 by task syz.0.17/6079 CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 6079 Comm: syz.0.17 Not tainted syzkaller #0 PREEMPT(full) Call Trace: <TASK> dump_stack_lvl+0x189/0x250 lib/dump_stack.c:120 print_address_description mm/kasan/report.c:378 [inline] print_report+0xca/0x240 mm/kasan/report.c:482 kasan_report+0x118/0x150 mm/kasan/report.c:595 skb_reset_mac_header include/linux/skbuff.h:3150 [inline] napi_frags_skb net/core/gro.c:723 [inline] napi_gro_frags+0x6e/0x1030 net/core/gro.c:758 tun_get_user+0x28cb/0x3e20 drivers/net/tun.c:1920 tun_chr_write_iter+0x113/0x200 drivers/net/tun.c:1996 new_sync_write fs/read_write.c:593 [inline] vfs_write+0x5c9/0xb30 fs/read_write.c:686 ksys_write+0x145/0x250 fs/read_write.c:738 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:63 [inline] do_syscall_64+0xfa/0x3b0 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f </TASK> Allocated by task 6079: kasan_save_stack mm/kasan/common.c:47 [inline] kasan_save_track+0x3e/0x80 mm/kasan/common.c:68 unpoison_slab_object mm/kasan/common.c:330 [inline] __kasan_mempool_unpoison_object+0xa0/0x170 mm/kasan/common.c:558 kasan_mempool_unpoison_object include/linux/kasan.h:388 [inline] napi_skb_cache_get+0x37b/0x6d0 net/core/skbuff.c:295 __alloc_skb+0x11e/0x2d0 net/core/skbuff.c:657 napi_alloc_skb+0x84/0x7d0 net/core/skbuff.c:811 napi_get_frags+0x69/0x140 net/core/gro.c:673 tun_napi_alloc_frags drivers/net/tun.c:1404 [inline] tun_get_user+0x77c/0x3e20 drivers/net/tun.c:1784 tun_chr_write_iter+0x113/0x200 drivers/net/tun.c:1996 new_sync_write fs/read_write.c:593 [inline] vfs_write+0x5c9/0xb30 fs/read_write.c:686 ksys_write+0x145/0x250 fs/read_write.c:738 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:63 [inline] do_syscall_64+0xfa/0x3b0 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f Freed by task 6079: kasan_save_stack mm/kasan/common.c:47 [inline] kasan_save_track+0x3e/0x80 mm/kasan/common.c:68 kasan_save_free_info+0x46/0x50 mm/kasan/generic.c:576 poison_slab_object mm/kasan/common.c:243 [inline] __kasan_slab_free+0x5b/0x80 mm/kasan/common.c:275 kasan_slab_free include/linux/kasan.h:233 [inline] slab_free_hook mm/slub.c:2422 [inline] slab_free mm/slub.c:4695 [inline] kmem_cache_free+0x18f/0x400 mm/slub.c:4797 skb_pp_cow_data+0xdd8/0x13e0 net/core/skbuff.c:969 netif_skb_check_for_xdp net/core/dev.c:5390 [inline] netif_receive_generic_xdp net/core/dev.c:5431 [inline] do_xdp_generic+0x699/0x11a0 net/core/dev.c:5499 tun_get_user+0x2523/0x3e20 drivers/net/tun.c:1872 tun_chr_write_iter+0x113/0x200 drivers/net/tun.c:1996 new_sync_write fs/read_write.c:593 [inline] vfs_write+0x5c9/0xb30 fs/read_write.c:686 ksys_write+0x145/0x250 fs/read_write.c:738 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:63 [inline] do_syscall_64+0xfa/0x3b0 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f After commit e6d5dbdd20aa ("xdp: add multi-buff support for xdp running in generic mode"), the original skb may be freed in skb_pp_cow_data() when XDP program was attached, which was allocated in tun_napi_alloc_frags(). However, the napi->skb still point to the original skb, update it after XDP process.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2025-39984 is a Linux kernel use-after-free bug in the TUN network driver path when XDP processing is involved. The public record shows a kernel memory safety issue found by syzkaller and fixed in stable kernel commits. No CVSS score or active exploitation evidence is provided.

Executive priority

Treat as a kernel maintenance priority, not an emergency based on current evidence. Patch exposed Linux networking hosts during the next accelerated maintenance window, especially systems using virtual networking, VPN, container networking, or custom kernels.

Technical view

After XDP generic multi-buffer support, the original skb can be freed during XDP processing, while napi->skb still points to it. Later GRO handling can dereference the stale pointer, producing a KASAN slab-use-after-free in tun_get_user and napi_gro_frags.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems running affected kernels with TUN/TAP networking and XDP processing paths. Containers, virtualization, VPN, or network tooling may use TUN, but the bundle does not identify affected distributions or configurations beyond Linux kernel versions and commits.

Exploitation context

The source evidence is a syzkaller KASAN report and kernel fix discussion. CISA KEV is false in the bundle, and no cited source states active exploitation or public weaponization. Practical exploitability is not established by the provided sources.

Researcher notes

Key artifact is a stale napi->skb pointer after XDP processing in drivers/net/tun.c. The report ties the free to skb_pp_cow_data during generic XDP and the later dereference to GRO. Affected version mapping is incomplete in the bundle, so validate by commit presence.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply Linux stable updates that include the referenced fix commits.
  • Use distribution vendor advisories to confirm backported kernel package fixes.
  • Prioritize systems using TUN/TAP networking with XDP-enabled paths.
  • Limit untrusted access to TUN device creation and network administration privileges.
  • Track vendor guidance if running custom or long-term kernels.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions across Linux assets.
  • Check whether deployed kernels include the referenced stable commits or vendor backports.
  • Identify hosts using TUN/TAP interfaces, VPNs, containers, or virtual networking.
  • Review whether XDP programs are attached on relevant network paths.
  • Monitor kernel logs for KASAN, UAF, or TUN/GRO crash indicators.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

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

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
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.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
0ADP providers
4Source links

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
LinuxLinuxe6d5dbdd20aa6a86974af51deb9414cd2e7794cb, e6d5dbdd20aa6a86974af51deb9414cd2e7794cb, e6d5dbdd20aa6a86974af51deb9414cd2e7794cbunaffected
LinuxLinux6.9, 0, 6.12.50, 6.16.10, 6.17affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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