#VU112173 Memory leak in Linux kernel - CVE-2025-38120

Vulnerability identifier: #VU112173

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-2025-38120

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 nft_pipapo_avx2_estimate() and nft_pipapo_avx2_lookup() functions in net/netfilter/nft_set_pipapo_avx2.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/251496ce1728c9fd47bd2b20a7b21b20b9a020ca
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/39bab2d3517b5b50c609b4f8c66129bf619fffa0
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8068e1e42b46518ce680dc6470bcd710efc3fa0a
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/90bc7f5a244aadee4292b28098b7c98aadd4b3aa
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b5ad58285f9217d68cd5ea2ad86ce254a3fe7c4d
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ea77c397bff8b6d59f6d83dae1425b08f465e8b5

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?