#VU112169 Memory leak in Linux kernel - CVE-2025-38097

Vulnerability identifier: #VU112169

Vulnerability risk: Low

CVSSv4.0: 4.3 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Clear]

CVE-ID: CVE-2025-38097

CWE-ID: CWE-401

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 perform a denial of service (DoS) attack.

The vulnerability exists due to memory leak within the __xfrm_state_delete() function in net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c, within the esp_ssg_unref(), esp6_find_tcp_sk(), esp_output_tcp_finish() and esp6_output_tcp_encap() functions in net/ipv6/esp6.c, within the esp_ssg_unref(), esp_find_tcp_sk(), esp_output_tcp_finish() and esp_output_tcp_encap() functions in net/ipv4/esp4.c. A local user can perform a denial of service (DoS) attack.

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/028363685bd0b7a19b4a820f82dd905b1dc83999
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/74fd327767fb784c5875cf7c4ba1217f26020943
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9cbca30102028f9ad3d2098f935c4368f581fd07
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b58a295d10065960bcb9d60cb8ca6ead9837cd27
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e4cde54b46a87231c77256a633be1bef62687d69

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?