CVE-2025-38052: Linux kernel · net/tipc: fix slab-use-after-free Read in tipc_aead_encrypt_done
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.8 High · fixed in 5.15.0-1090.97~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 11 Nov 2026, 12:30 UTC
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1090.97~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1094.103~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1090.99~20.04.1 +64
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 18 Jun 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 11 Nov 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Patches and advisories
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7704-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7704-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7704-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7704-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7711-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7712-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7704-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7712-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7770-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7771-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-2 (opens in a new tab)
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-vmwarepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-vmware?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-aws-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A fix is available and has been incorporated into multiple Linux kernel versions starting from 5.15.0-1083.86~20.04.1 and later. Users and administrators should update to these fixed kernel versions as soon as possible. No additional mitigations are indicated by the vendor advisory.
Description
CVE-2025-38052 is a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's Transparent Inter-Process Communication (TIPC) network protocol implementation. The flaw occurs in the tipc_aead_encrypt_done function, where a slab-use-after-free condition can be triggered after a network namespace deletion, leading to a read of freed memory. This issue arises when encryption operations are interrupted and a cryptographic worker thread accesses freed resources. The vulnerability has been fixed in several Linux kernel versions starting from 5.15.0-1083.86~20.04.1 and later.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-38052 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-38052 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/e279024617134c94fd3e37470156534d5f2b3472 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4a0fddc2c0d5c28aec8c262ad4603be0bef1938c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/689a205cd968a1572ab561b0c4c2d50a10e9d3b0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b19fc1d0be3c3397e5968fe2627f22e7f84673b1 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b8fcae6d2e93c54cacb8f579a77d827c1c643eb5 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d42ed4de6aba232d946d20653a70f79158a6535b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e279024617134c94fd3e37470156534d5f2b3472 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f5c2c4eaaa5a8e7e0685ec031d480e588e263e59 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7704-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7704-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7704-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7704-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7711-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7712-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7704-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7712-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7770-1 (opens in a new tab)