#VU114129 Memory leak in Linux kernel - CVE-2025-38542

Vulnerability identifier: #VU114129

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-2025-38542

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 atrtr_create() function in net/appletalk/ddp.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/473f3eadfc73b0fb6d8dee5829d19a5772e387f7
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4a17370da6e476d3d275534e9e9cd2d02c57ca46
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/64124cf0aab0dd1e18c0fb5ae66e45741e727f8b
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/711c80f7d8b163d3ecd463cd96f07230f488e750
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a7852b01793669248dce0348d14df89e77a32afd
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b2f5dfa87367fdce9f8b995bc6c38f64f9ea2c90
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b92bedf71f25303e203a4e657489d76691a58119
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d2e9f50f0bdad73b64a871f25186b899624518c4

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?