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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2025-39931: Linux kernel · crypto: af_alg – Set merge to zero early in af_alg_sendmsg

Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5

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Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in db2b42425dfbde4983b0c20fb7cfa05f70e6a745 : patch Linux kernel soon.

Data as of 10 Nov 2026, 12:49 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
7.8High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.

Thin evidence

One scorer or none
CVSS scores by source
CNA (Linux)CVSS 3.17.8
CISA SSVC
Exploitation
No evidence of active exploitation and no public proof of concept
Automatable
Attackers cannot reliably automate steps 1–4 of the kill chain
Technical impact
Total control over the software or total information disclosure

CISA SSVC assessment, 2026-10-15.

Patch
Available – fixed in db2b42425dfbde4983b0c20fb7cfa05f70e6a745, 9574b2330dbd2b5459b74d3b5e9619d39299fc6f, 6241b9e2809b12da9130894cf5beddf088dc1b8a +4
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 4 Oct 2025

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponized: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq 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 10 Nov 2026.

What to do

Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 8ff590903d5fc7f5a0a988c38267a3d08e6393a2, < db2b42425dfbde4983b0c20fb7cfa05f70e6a745
Fixed in
  • db2b42425dfbde4983b0c20fb7cfa05f70e6a745
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 8ff590903d5fc7f5a0a988c38267a3d08e6393a2, < 9574b2330dbd2b5459b74d3b5e9619d39299fc6f
Fixed in
  • 9574b2330dbd2b5459b74d3b5e9619d39299fc6f
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 8ff590903d5fc7f5a0a988c38267a3d08e6393a2, < 6241b9e2809b12da9130894cf5beddf088dc1b8a
Fixed in
  • 6241b9e2809b12da9130894cf5beddf088dc1b8a
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 8ff590903d5fc7f5a0a988c38267a3d08e6393a2, < 2374c11189ef704a3e4863646369f1b8e6a27d71
Fixed in
  • 2374c11189ef704a3e4863646369f1b8e6a27d71
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 8ff590903d5fc7f5a0a988c38267a3d08e6393a2, < 045ee26aa3920a47ec46d7fcb302420bf01fd753
Fixed in
  • 045ee26aa3920a47ec46d7fcb302420bf01fd753
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 8ff590903d5fc7f5a0a988c38267a3d08e6393a2, < 28f6f37abca7c5c9eb3959c66310f1d4d98b8aaf
Fixed in
  • 28f6f37abca7c5c9eb3959c66310f1d4d98b8aaf

AI-suggested

A fix is available and has been applied in the Linux kernel. Users should update to the fixed kernel versions identified by the commits listed in establishedFacts.fixedVersions. No additional mitigation steps are required beyond applying the official patch.

Description

CVE-2025-39931 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel's crypto subsystem, specifically in the af_alg_sendmsg function. The flaw occurs because the ctx->merge variable may retain a garbage value from a previous loop iteration if an error causes af_alg_sendmsg to abort. This can lead to a crash on subsequent calls to af_alg_sendmsg when it attempts an invalid merge operation. The issue is fixed by initializing ctx->merge to zero early in the processing loop.

References

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