CVE-2025-71088: mptcp: fallback earlier on simult connection
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
mptcp: fallback earlier on simult connection
Syzkaller reports a simult-connect race leading to inconsistent fallback
status:
WARNING: CPU: 3 PID: 33 at net/mptcp/subflow.c:1515 subflow_data_ready+0x40b/0x7c0 net/mptcp/subflow.c:1515
Modules linked in:
CPU: 3 UID: 0 PID: 33 Comm: ksoftirqd/3 Not tainted syzkaller #0 PREEMPT(full)
Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS 1.16.3-debian-1.16.3-2~bpo12+1 04/01/2014
RIP: 0010:subflow_data_ready+0x40b/0x7c0 net/mptcp/subflow.c:1515
Code: 89 ee e8 78 61 3c f6 40 84 ed 75 21 e8 8e 66 3c f6 44 89 fe bf 07 00 00 00 e8 c1 61 3c f6 41 83 ff 07 74 09 e8 76 66 3c f6 90 <0f> 0b 90 e8 6d 66 3c f6 48 89 df e8 e5 ad ff ff 31 ff 89 c5 89 c6
RSP: 0018:ffffc900006cf338 EFLAGS: 00010246
RAX: 0000000000000000 RBX: ffff888031acd100 RCX: ffffffff8b7f2abf
RDX: ffff88801e6ea440 RSI: ffffffff8b7f2aca RDI: 0000000000000005
RBP: 0000000000000000 R08: 0000000000000005 R09: 0000000000000007
R10: 0000000000000004 R11: 0000000000002c10 R12: ffff88802ba69900
R13: 1ffff920000d9e67 R14: ffff888046f81800 R15: 0000000000000004
FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ffff8880d69bc000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000
CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033
CR2: 0000560fc0ca1670 CR3: 0000000032c3a000 CR4: 0000000000352ef0
Call Trace:
<TASK>
tcp_data_queue+0x13b0/0x4f90 net/ipv4/tcp_input.c:5197
tcp_rcv_state_process+0xfdf/0x4ec0 net/ipv4/tcp_input.c:6922
tcp_v6_do_rcv+0x492/0x1740 net/ipv6/tcp_ipv6.c:1672
tcp_v6_rcv+0x2976/0x41e0 net/ipv6/tcp_ipv6.c:1918
ip6_protocol_deliver_rcu+0x188/0x1520 net/ipv6/ip6_input.c:438
ip6_input_finish+0x1e4/0x4b0 net/ipv6/ip6_input.c:489
NF_HOOK include/linux/netfilter.h:318 [inline]
NF_HOOK include/linux/netfilter.h:312 [inline]
ip6_input+0x105/0x2f0 net/ipv6/ip6_input.c:500
dst_input include/net/dst.h:471 [inline]
ip6_rcv_finish net/ipv6/ip6_input.c:79 [inline]
NF_HOOK include/linux/netfilter.h:318 [inline]
NF_HOOK include/linux/netfilter.h:312 [inline]
ipv6_rcv+0x264/0x650 net/ipv6/ip6_input.c:311
__netif_receive_skb_one_core+0x12d/0x1e0 net/core/dev.c:5979
__netif_receive_skb+0x1d/0x160 net/core/dev.c:6092
process_backlog+0x442/0x15e0 net/core/dev.c:6444
__napi_poll.constprop.0+0xba/0x550 net/core/dev.c:7494
napi_poll net/core/dev.c:7557 [inline]
net_rx_action+0xa9f/0xfe0 net/core/dev.c:7684
handle_softirqs+0x216/0x8e0 kernel/softirq.c:579
run_ksoftirqd kernel/softirq.c:968 [inline]
run_ksoftirqd+0x3a/0x60 kernel/softirq.c:960
smpboot_thread_fn+0x3f7/0xae0 kernel/smpboot.c:160
kthread+0x3c2/0x780 kernel/kthread.c:463
ret_from_fork+0x5d7/0x6f0 arch/x86/kernel/process.c:148
ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:245
</TASK>
The TCP subflow can process the simult-connect syn-ack packet after
transitioning to TCP_FIN1 state, bypassing the MPTCP fallback check,
as the sk_state_change() callback is not invoked for * -> FIN_WAIT1
transitions.
That will move the msk socket to an inconsistent status and the next
incoming data will hit the reported splat.
Close the race moving the simult-fallback check at the earliest possible
stage - that is at syn-ack generation time.
About the fixes tags: [2] was supposed to also fix this issue introduced
by [3]. [1] is required as a dependence: it was not explicitly marked as
a fix, but it is one and it has already been backported before [3]. In
other words, this commit should be backported up to [3], including [2]
and [1] if that's not already there.
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2025-71088 is a Linux kernel MPTCP race condition found by Syzkaller. In a rare simultaneous-connection case, the kernel can put an MPTCP socket into an inconsistent state and later hit a warning when data arrives. The source bundle does not show remote code execution, privilege escalation, or confirmed exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as a kernel reliability and availability concern, not a proven breach vector. Patch through normal kernel maintenance, with faster handling for exposed systems that use MPTCP or products named by vendor advisories.
Technical view
The race occurs during MPTCP simultaneous connect handling. A TCP subflow may process a SYN-ACK after transitioning to TCP_FIN1, bypassing the MPTCP fallback check because sk_state_change is not invoked for that transition. The fix moves the simultaneous-fallback check earlier, at SYN-ACK generation time.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux systems running affected kernel versions or unfixed downstream backports where MPTCP is enabled or reachable. Distribution package status is not fully established by the bundle, so teams should verify their vendor kernel build against the referenced stable commits.
Exploitation context
The bundle cites a Syzkaller report and Linux stable fixes, but no public exploit, KEV listing, or active exploitation evidence. Practical attackability is unclear from the provided sources because triggering depends on MPTCP simultaneous-connect race behavior.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports a resolved Linux MPTCP fallback race with commit-level fixes. Impact boundaries remain incomplete: no CVSS, CWE, exploit confirmation, or detailed product matrix is provided. Avoid assuming exploitability beyond the documented inconsistent socket state and kernel warning path.
Mitigation direction
Update to a vendor kernel containing the referenced Linux stable fixes.
Check distribution advisories for backported fixes matching CVE-2025-71088.
Assess whether MPTCP is enabled or required on exposed systems.
Prioritize internet-facing or multi-tenant Linux systems using MPTCP.
Follow Siemens advisory guidance for any affected Siemens-managed products.
Validation and detection
Inventory Linux kernel versions and vendor patch levels.
Compare running kernels against vendor advisories and referenced stable commits.
Confirm whether MPTCP is enabled in relevant environments.
Review kernel logs for related MPTCP warnings or splats.
Track CVE and vendor advisories for updated severity or impact details.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Potential ATT&CK relevance
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CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
Jan 13, 2026, 15:34 UTC (UTC+00:00)
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