Linux hwe edge: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tcp: Don't call reqsk_fastopen_remove() in tcp_conn_request(). (CVE-2025-40186)
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tcp: Don't call reqsk_fastopen_remove() in tcp_conn_request(). syzbot reported the splat below in tcp_conn_request(). [0] If a listener is close()d while a TFO socket is being processed in tcp_conn_request(), inet_csk_reqsk_queue_add() does not set reqsk->sk and calls inet_child_forget(), which calls tcp_disconnect() for the TFO socket. After the cited commit, tcp_disconnect() calls reqsk_fastopen_remove(), where reqsk_put() is called due to !reqsk->sk. Then, reqsk_fastopen_remove() in tcp_conn_request() decrements the last req->rsk_refcnt and frees reqsk, and __reqsk_free() at the drop_and_free label causes the refcount underflow for the listener and double-free of the reqsk. Let's remove reqsk_fastopen_remove() in tcp_conn_request(). Note that other callers make sure tp->fastopen_rsk is not NULL. [0]: refcount_t: underflow; use-after-free. WARNING: CPU: 12 PID: 5563 at lib/refcount.c:28 refcount_warn_saturate (lib/refcount.c:28) Modules linked in: CPU: 12 UID: 0 PID: 5563 Comm: syz-executor Not tainted syzkaller #0 PREEMPT(full) Hardware name: Google Google Compute Engine/Google Compute Engine, BIOS Google 07/12/2025 RIP: 0010:refcount_warn_saturate (lib/refcount.c:28) Code: ab e8 8e b4 98 ff 0f 0b c3 cc cc cc cc cc 80 3d a4 e4 d6 01 00 75 9c c6 05 9b e4 d6 01 01 48 c7 c7 e8 df fb ab e8 6a b4 98 ff <0f> 0b e9 03 5b 76 00 cc 80 3d 7d e4 d6 01 00 0f 85 74 ff ff ff c6 RSP: 0018:ffffa79fc0304a98 EFLAGS: 00010246 RAX: d83af4db1c6b3900 RBX: ffff9f65c7a69020 RCX: d83af4db1c6b3900 RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: 00000000ffff7fff RDI: ffffffffac78a280 RBP: 000000009d781b60 R08: 0000000000007fff R09: ffffffffac6ca280 R10: 0000000000017ffd R11: 0000000000000004 R12: ffff9f65c7b4f100 R13: ffff9f65c7d23c00 R14: ffff9f65c7d26000 R15: ffff9f65c7a64ef8 FS: 00007f9f962176c0(0000) GS:ffff9f65fcf00000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 0000200000000180 CR3: 000000000dbbe006 CR4: 0000000000372ef0 Call Trace: <IRQ> tcp_conn_request (./include/linux/refcount.h:400 ./include/linux/refcount.h:432 ./include/linux/refcount.h:450 ./include/net/sock.h:1965 ./include/net/request_sock.h:131 net/ipv4/tcp_input.c:7301) tcp_rcv_state_process (net/ipv4/tcp_input.c:6708) tcp_v6_do_rcv (net/ipv6/tcp_ipv6.c:1670) tcp_v6_rcv (net/ipv6/tcp_ipv6.c:1906) ip6_protocol_deliver_rcu (net/ipv6/ip6_input.c:438) ip6_input (net/ipv6/ip6_input.c:500) ipv6_rcv (net/ipv6/ip6_input.c:311) __netif_receive_skb (net/core/dev.c:6104) process_backlog (net/core/dev.c:6456) __napi_poll (net/core/dev.c:7506) net_rx_action (net/core/dev.c:7569 net/core/dev.c:7696) handle_softirqs (kernel/softirq.c:579) do_softirq (kernel/softirq.c:480) </IRQ>
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The vulnerability (CVE-2025-40186) involves improper handling of TCP Fast Open request sockets in the Linux kernel's tcp_conn_request() function. When a listening socket is closed concurrently with processing a TFO socket, inet_csk_reqsk_queue_add() does not set the reqsk->sk pointer, triggering a call to tcp_disconnect() that calls reqsk_fastopen_remove(). This results in decrementing the request socket's reference count twice, causing an underflow and double-free condition. The fix removes the redundant call to reqsk_fastopen_remove() in tcp_conn_request(), preventing the reference count underflow and associated memory corruption.
Potential Impact
The vulnerability can cause reference count underflow and double-free of kernel request socket structures, leading to memory corruption and potential kernel instability or crashes. This impacts the reliability and security of TCP connection handling in the Linux kernel, potentially allowing denial of service or other kernel-level faults.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. The vulnerability has been resolved by removing the unsafe call to reqsk_fastopen_remove() in tcp_conn_request(). Users should monitor official Linux kernel advisories for patches addressing CVE-2025-40186 and apply them promptly once available.
Linux hwe edge: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tcp: Don't call reqsk_fastopen_remove() in tcp_conn_request(). (CVE-2025-40186)
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tcp: Don't call reqsk_fastopen_remove() in tcp_conn_request(). syzbot reported the splat below in tcp_conn_request(). [0] If a listener is close()d while a TFO socket is being processed in tcp_conn_request(), inet_csk_reqsk_queue_add() does not set reqsk->sk and calls inet_child_forget(), which calls tcp_disconnect() for the TFO socket. After the cited commit, tcp_disconnect() calls reqsk_fastopen_remove(), where reqsk_put() is called due to !reqsk->sk. Then, reqsk_fastopen_remove() in tcp_conn_request() decrements the last req->rsk_refcnt and frees reqsk, and __reqsk_free() at the drop_and_free label causes the refcount underflow for the listener and double-free of the reqsk. Let's remove reqsk_fastopen_remove() in tcp_conn_request(). Note that other callers make sure tp->fastopen_rsk is not NULL. [0]: refcount_t: underflow; use-after-free. WARNING: CPU: 12 PID: 5563 at lib/refcount.c:28 refcount_warn_saturate (lib/refcount.c:28) Modules linked in: CPU: 12 UID: 0 PID: 5563 Comm: syz-executor Not tainted syzkaller #0 PREEMPT(full) Hardware name: Google Google Compute Engine/Google Compute Engine, BIOS Google 07/12/2025 RIP: 0010:refcount_warn_saturate (lib/refcount.c:28) Code: ab e8 8e b4 98 ff 0f 0b c3 cc cc cc cc cc 80 3d a4 e4 d6 01 00 75 9c c6 05 9b e4 d6 01 01 48 c7 c7 e8 df fb ab e8 6a b4 98 ff <0f> 0b e9 03 5b 76 00 cc 80 3d 7d e4 d6 01 00 0f 85 74 ff ff ff c6 RSP: 0018:ffffa79fc0304a98 EFLAGS: 00010246 RAX: d83af4db1c6b3900 RBX: ffff9f65c7a69020 RCX: d83af4db1c6b3900 RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: 00000000ffff7fff RDI: ffffffffac78a280 RBP: 000000009d781b60 R08: 0000000000007fff R09: ffffffffac6ca280 R10: 0000000000017ffd R11: 0000000000000004 R12: ffff9f65c7b4f100 R13: ffff9f65c7d23c00 R14: ffff9f65c7d26000 R15: ffff9f65c7a64ef8 FS: 00007f9f962176c0(0000) GS:ffff9f65fcf00000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 0000200000000180 CR3: 000000000dbbe006 CR4: 0000000000372ef0 Call Trace: <IRQ> tcp_conn_request (./include/linux/refcount.h:400 ./include/linux/refcount.h:432 ./include/linux/refcount.h:450 ./include/net/sock.h:1965 ./include/net/request_sock.h:131 net/ipv4/tcp_input.c:7301) tcp_rcv_state_process (net/ipv4/tcp_input.c:6708) tcp_v6_do_rcv (net/ipv6/tcp_ipv6.c:1670) tcp_v6_rcv (net/ipv6/tcp_ipv6.c:1906) ip6_protocol_deliver_rcu (net/ipv6/ip6_input.c:438) ip6_input (net/ipv6/ip6_input.c:500) ipv6_rcv (net/ipv6/ip6_input.c:311) __netif_receive_skb (net/core/dev.c:6104) process_backlog (net/core/dev.c:6456) __napi_poll (net/core/dev.c:7506) net_rx_action (net/core/dev.c:7569 net/core/dev.c:7696) handle_softirqs (kernel/softirq.c:579) do_softirq (kernel/softirq.c:480) </IRQ>
CVSS v3.1
Score 8.1high
Affected software
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The vulnerability (CVE-2025-40186) involves improper handling of TCP Fast Open request sockets in the Linux kernel's tcp_conn_request() function. When a listening socket is closed concurrently with processing a TFO socket, inet_csk_reqsk_queue_add() does not set the reqsk->sk pointer, triggering a call to tcp_disconnect() that calls reqsk_fastopen_remove(). This results in decrementing the request socket's reference count twice, causing an underflow and double-free condition. The fix removes the redundant call to reqsk_fastopen_remove() in tcp_conn_request(), preventing the reference count underflow and associated memory corruption.
Potential Impact
The vulnerability can cause reference count underflow and double-free of kernel request socket structures, leading to memory corruption and potential kernel instability or crashes. This impacts the reliability and security of TCP connection handling in the Linux kernel, potentially allowing denial of service or other kernel-level faults.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. The vulnerability has been resolved by removing the unsafe call to reqsk_fastopen_remove() in tcp_conn_request(). Users should monitor official Linux kernel advisories for patches addressing CVE-2025-40186 and apply them promptly once available.
Technical Details
- Gcve Source
- db.gcve.eu
- Osv Id
- GHSA-qx52-pj36-489j
- Osv Schema Version
- 1.4.0
- Aliases
- ["CVE-2025-40186"]
- Database Specific Severity
- HIGH
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
Threat ID: 6a6b72d59c2644c7f8479f74
Added to database: 07/30/2026, 15:50:45 UTC
Last enriched: 07/30/2026, 17:22:31 UTC
Last updated: 09/10/2026, 19:36:50 UTC
Views: 14
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