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CVE Record

CVE-2025-71113: crypto: af_alg - zero initialize memory allocated via sock_kmalloc

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: crypto: af_alg - zero initialize memory allocated via sock_kmalloc Several crypto user API contexts and requests allocated with sock_kmalloc() were left uninitialized, relying on callers to set fields explicitly. This resulted in the use of uninitialized data in certain error paths or when new fields are added in the future. The ACVP patches also contain two user-space interface files: algif_kpp.c and algif_akcipher.c. These too rely on proper initialization of their context structures. A particular issue has been observed with the newly added 'inflight' variable introduced in af_alg_ctx by commit: 67b164a871af ("crypto: af_alg - Disallow multiple in-flight AIO requests") Because the context is not memset to zero after allocation, the inflight variable has contained garbage values. As a result, af_alg_alloc_areq() has incorrectly returned -EBUSY randomly when the garbage value was interpreted as true: https://github.com/gregkh/linux/blame/master/crypto/af_alg.c#L1209 The check directly tests ctx->inflight without explicitly comparing against true/false. Since inflight is only ever set to true or false later, an uninitialized value has triggered -EBUSY failures. Zero-initializing memory allocated with sock_kmalloc() ensures inflight and other fields start in a known state, removing random issues caused by uninitialized data.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel issue can make crypto user API state start with random memory values. The observed result is unreliable failures, not confirmed compromise. Because the CVE has no CVSS score and is not in KEV, urgency should be based on affected kernel exposure and vendor patch availability.

Executive priority

Handle through normal kernel patch management unless your environment depends heavily on affected Linux crypto APIs or untrusted local workloads. Escalate if a vendor advisory identifies critical product exposure. Current evidence does not support emergency response based on exploitation.

Technical view

AF_ALG contexts and requests allocated with sock_kmalloc() were not zero-initialized. The source notes an uninitialized af_alg_ctx inflight flag could randomly be treated as true, causing af_alg_alloc_areq() to return -EBUSY. Stable kernel commits address this by zero-initializing allocated memory.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to systems running affected Linux kernel versions or vendor products using those kernels. The bundle lists Linux kernel versions including 2.6.38, 5.10.248, 5.15.198, 6.1.160, 6.6.120, 6.12.64, 6.18.3, and 6.19 as affected.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show active exploitation, public exploit availability, or KEV listing. The documented impact is random -EBUSY behavior from uninitialized kernel memory in AF_ALG paths. Treat exploitability and security impact as not fully characterized from this bundle.

Researcher notes

Key evidence is the kernel resolution text: sock_kmalloc allocations left structures uninitialized, with inflight garbage values causing random busy errors. The bundle lacks CVSS, CWE mapping, exploit details, and full per-branch fixed-version metadata, so conclusions should remain conservative.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply Linux stable or distribution kernel updates containing the referenced AF_ALG fixes.
  • Check vendor advisories for appliance or embedded products using Linux kernels.
  • Prioritize systems that run untrusted local workloads or crypto API consumers.
  • Track Siemens guidance where Siemens products are in scope.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory deployed Linux kernel versions across servers, appliances, and embedded systems.
  • Compare kernel packages against vendor advisories and referenced stable commit IDs.
  • Review distribution changelogs for CVE-2025-71113 or AF_ALG zero-initialization fixes.
  • Investigate unexplained AF_ALG -EBUSY failures as possible symptoms, not proof.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
10

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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ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2025-71113 mapping review

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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
2ADP providers
9Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

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

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
siemens-SADPADP container
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxfe869cdb89c95d060c77eea20204d6c91f233b53, fe869cdb89c95d060c77eea20204d6c91f233b53, fe869cdb89c95d060c77eea20204d6c91f233b53, fe869cdb89c95d060c77eea20204d6c91f233b53, fe869cdb89c95d060c77eea20204d6c91f233b53, fe869cdb89c95d060c77eea20204d6c91f233b53, fe869cdb89c95d060c77eea20204d6c91f233b53unaffected
LinuxLinux2.6.38, 0, 5.10.248, 5.15.198, 6.1.160, 6.6.120, 6.12.64, 6.18.3, 6.19affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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