CVE-2025-39931: Linux kernel · crypto: af_alg – Set merge to zero early in af_alg_sendmsg
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 6% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1123.132~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1118.128~20.04.1 +59
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 4 Oct 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: 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 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | 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
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11?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 promptly. The vulnerability has been fixed by resetting ctx->merge early in the af_alg_sendmsg function. Users should update their Linux kernel to the fixed versions provided by their distribution vendors, such as the Ubuntu security notice USN-8095-1. No additional mitigation steps are required beyond applying the official fix.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's crypto subsystem (af_alg) was resolved by ensuring the merge variable is reset early in the af_alg_sendmsg function. If an error caused af_alg_sendmsg to abort, the merge variable could retain garbage data from a previous loop, potentially causing a crash on subsequent calls. This flaw has been fixed by setting ctx->merge to zero near the start of the loop. The vulnerability affects specific Linux kernel versions and has a high severity score of 7.8. A patch is available as part of security updates, including those from Ubuntu.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-39931 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-39931 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/9574b2330dbd2b5459b74d3b5e9619d39299fc6f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/045ee26aa3920a47ec46d7fcb302420bf01fd753 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2374c11189ef704a3e4863646369f1b8e6a27d71 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/24c1106504c625fabd3b7229611af617b4c27ac7 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6241b9e2809b12da9130894cf5beddf088dc1b8a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9574b2330dbd2b5459b74d3b5e9619d39299fc6f (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8095-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8100-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8095-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8095-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8095-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8125-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8126-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8095-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8165-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8261-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8876-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8878-1 (opens in a new tab)