CVE-2025-39931: Linux kernel · crypto: af_alg – Set merge to zero early in af_alg_sendmsg
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
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
Thin evidence
One scorer or none| CNA (Linux) | CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 |
|---|
- 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:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 4 Oct 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 10 Nov 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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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
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/28f6f37abca7c5c9eb3959c66310f1d4d98b8aaf (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/db2b42425dfbde4983b0c20fb7cfa05f70e6a745 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6241b9e2809b12da9130894cf5beddf088dc1b8a (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/045ee26aa3920a47ec46d7fcb302420bf01fd753 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9574b2330dbd2b5459b74d3b5e9619d39299fc6f (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-082556.html (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-019113.html (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-457936.html (opens in a new tab)