#VU111465 Use-after-free in Linux kernel - CVE-2025-38052

Vulnerability identifier: #VU111465

Vulnerability risk: Low

CVSSv4.0: 5.9 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Clear]

CVE-ID: CVE-2025-38052

CWE-ID: CWE-416

Exploitation vector: Local

Exploit availability: No

Vulnerable software:
Linux kernel
Operating systems & Components / Operating system

Vendor: Linux Foundation

Description

The vulnerability allows a local user to escalate privileges on the system.

The vulnerability exists due to a use-after-free error within the tipc_aead_encrypt() and tipc_aead_encrypt_done() functions in net/tipc/crypto.c. A local user can escalate privileges on the system.

Mitigation
Install update from vendor's repository.

Vulnerable software versions

Linux kernel: All versions

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External links
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4a0fddc2c0d5c28aec8c262ad4603be0bef1938c
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/689a205cd968a1572ab561b0c4c2d50a10e9d3b0
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b19fc1d0be3c3397e5968fe2627f22e7f84673b1
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b8fcae6d2e93c54cacb8f579a77d827c1c643eb5
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d42ed4de6aba232d946d20653a70f79158a6535b
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e279024617134c94fd3e37470156534d5f2b3472
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f5c2c4eaaa5a8e7e0685ec031d480e588e263e59

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

No. This vulnerability can be exploited locally. The attacker should have authentication credentials and successfully authenticate on the system.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.