CVE-2025-40215

Linux Kernel - Use-After-Free in xfrm_state_fini via IP Reassembly Queue

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfrm: delete x->tunnel as we delete x The ipcomp fallback tunnels currently get deleted (from the various lists and hashtables) as the last user state that needed that fallback is destroyed (not deleted). If a reference to that user state still exists, the fallback state will remain on the hashtables/lists, triggering the WARN in xfrm_state_fini. Because of those remaining references, the fix in commit f75a2804da39 ("xfrm: destroy xfrm_state synchronously on net exit path") is not complete. We recently fixed one such situation in TCP due to defered freeing of skbs (commit 9b6412e6979f ("tcp: drop secpath at the same time as we currently drop dst")). This can also happen due to IP reassembly: skbs with a secpath remain on the reassembly queue until netns destruction. If we can't guarantee that the queues are flushed by the time xfrm_state_fini runs, there may still be references to a (user) xfrm_state, preventing the timely deletion of the corresponding fallback state. Instead of chasing each instance of skbs holding a secpath one by one, this patch fixes the issue directly within xfrm, by deleting the fallback state as soon as the last user state depending on it has been deleted. Destruction will still happen when the final reference is dropped. A separate lockdep class for the fallback state is required since we're going to lock x->tunnel while x is locked.

Scores

EPSS 0.0017
EPSS Percentile 6.3%

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation none
Automatable no
Technical Impact partial

Details

Status published
Products (19)
linux/Kernel 2.6.29 - 5.10.248linux
linux/Kernel 5.11.0 - 5.15.198linux
linux/Kernel 5.16.0 - 6.1.160linux
linux/Kernel 6.2.0 - 6.6.120linux
linux/Kernel 6.7.0 - 6.12.62linux
Linux/Linux < 2.6.29
Linux/Linux 2.6.29
Linux/Linux 5.10.248 - 5.10.*
Linux/Linux 5.15.198 - 5.15.*
Linux/Linux 6.1.160 - 6.1.*
... and 9 more
Published Dec 04, 2025
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026