CVE-2025-38500: Linux kernel · Use After Free
Source GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 29 Oct 2026, 23:53 UTC
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 12 Aug 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 29 Oct 2026.
What to do
AI-suggested
A fix is available as the vulnerability has been resolved in the Linux kernel by changing the validation check to prevent changes to the collect_md property after device creation. Users should update to a Linux kernel version that includes this fix. No other mitigation steps are indicated.
Description
CVE-2025-38500 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's xfrm interface related to the collect_md property. The flaw occurs because the collect_md property can only be set during device creation, but the kernel did not properly prevent changes afterward, leading to a double free and kernel crash during network namespace teardown.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-38500 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5918c3f4800a3aef2173865e5903370f21e24f47 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/69a31f7a6a81f5ffd3812c442e09ff0be22960f1 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a8d4748b954584ab7bd800f1a4e46d5b0eeb5ce4 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a90b2a1aaacbcf0f91d7e4868ad6c51c5dee814b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/bfebdb85496e1da21d3cf05de099210915c3e706 (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/10/msg00008.html (opens in a new tab)