CVE-2025-38154: Linux kernel · bpf, sockmap: Avoid using sk_socket after free when sending
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 5.15.0-1092.99~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 11 Nov 2026, 12:30 UTC
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1092.99~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1096.105~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1092.101~20.04.1 +64
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 3 Jul 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-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)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7774-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7774-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7774-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7775-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7776-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7775-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7775-3 (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 patch is available and should be applied to affected Linux kernel versions. The fixed versions include multiple 5.15.x kernel releases as listed in the established facts. Users should update to these fixed kernel versions to mitigate the vulnerability. No additional mitigation is required beyond applying the official fixes.
Description
CVE-2025-38154 is a race condition vulnerability in the Linux kernel's BPF sockmap implementation. It involves the use of sk_socket after it has been freed during socket send operations, affecting all socket types including TCP, UDP, UNIX, and VSOCK. The flaw can lead to kernel panic due to improper synchronization between backlog and close threads. The issue has been fixed by increasing the psock reference count to ensure proper synchronization and prevent use-after-free conditions.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-38154 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-38154 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/8259eb0e06d8f64c700f5fbdb28a5c18e10de291 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/15c0250dae3b48a398447d2b364603821ed4ed90 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4c6fa65ab2aec7df94809478c8d28ef38676a1b7 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4edb40b05cb6a261775abfd8046804ca139a5546 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7c0a16f6ea2b1c82a03bccd5d1bdb4a7bbd4d987 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8259eb0e06d8f64c700f5fbdb28a5c18e10de291 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b19cbf0b9a91f5a0d93fbcd761ff71c48ab40ed9 (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)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7774-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7774-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7774-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7775-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7776-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7775-2 (opens in a new tab)