Linux hwe edge: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sunrpc: handle SVC_GARBAGE during svc auth processing as auth error tianshuo han… (CVE-2025-38089)
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sunrpc: handle SVC_GARBAGE during svc auth processing as auth error tianshuo han reported a remotely-triggerable crash if the client sends a kernel RPC server a specially crafted packet. If decoding the RPC reply fails in such a way that SVC_GARBAGE is returned without setting the rq_accept_statp pointer, then that pointer can be dereferenced and a value stored there. If it's the first time the thread has processed an RPC, then that pointer will be set to NULL and the kernel will crash. In other cases, it could create a memory scribble. The server sunrpc code treats a SVC_GARBAGE return from svc_authenticate or pg_authenticate as if it should send a GARBAGE_ARGS reply. RFC 5531 says that if authentication fails that the RPC should be rejected instead with a status of AUTH_ERR. Handle a SVC_GARBAGE return as an AUTH_ERROR, with a reason of AUTH_BADCRED instead of returning GARBAGE_ARGS in that case. This sidesteps the whole problem of touching the rpc_accept_statp pointer in this situation and avoids the crash.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The vulnerability CVE-2025-38089 affects the kernel live patch module used by the kpatch utility in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.4. It involves the sunrpc component improperly handling the SVC_GARBAGE condition during service authentication processing. The patch updates the kernel to treat SVC_GARBAGE as an authentication error, mitigating the issue. The update is delivered as a live patch module for kernel-5.14.0-427.13.1.el9_4 and requires a system reboot to apply. Red Hat has issued this update as part of RHSA-2025:12977 with an important security impact rating.
Potential Impact
The vulnerability causes the kernel's sunrpc service to incorrectly handle certain authentication conditions, potentially allowing improper authentication processing. This could lead to security issues related to authentication errors. Red Hat rates the security impact as important, indicating a significant but not critical risk. No known exploits are reported in the wild at this time.
Mitigation Recommendations
Red Hat has released updated kpatch-patch modules for kernel-5.14.0-427.13.1.el9_4 as part of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.4 Extended Update Support. Applying these updates and rebooting the system is required to fully remediate the vulnerability. For detailed update instructions, refer to Red Hat's official guidance at https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258. No additional mitigation steps are indicated beyond applying the official patch and rebooting.
Linux hwe edge: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sunrpc: handle SVC_GARBAGE during svc auth processing as auth error tianshuo han… (CVE-2025-38089)
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sunrpc: handle SVC_GARBAGE during svc auth processing as auth error tianshuo han reported a remotely-triggerable crash if the client sends a kernel RPC server a specially crafted packet. If decoding the RPC reply fails in such a way that SVC_GARBAGE is returned without setting the rq_accept_statp pointer, then that pointer can be dereferenced and a value stored there. If it's the first time the thread has processed an RPC, then that pointer will be set to NULL and the kernel will crash. In other cases, it could create a memory scribble. The server sunrpc code treats a SVC_GARBAGE return from svc_authenticate or pg_authenticate as if it should send a GARBAGE_ARGS reply. RFC 5531 says that if authentication fails that the RPC should be rejected instead with a status of AUTH_ERR. Handle a SVC_GARBAGE return as an AUTH_ERROR, with a reason of AUTH_BADCRED instead of returning GARBAGE_ARGS in that case. This sidesteps the whole problem of touching the rpc_accept_statp pointer in this situation and avoids the crash.
CVSS v3.1
Score 9.8critical
Affected software
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The vulnerability CVE-2025-38089 affects the kernel live patch module used by the kpatch utility in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.4. It involves the sunrpc component improperly handling the SVC_GARBAGE condition during service authentication processing. The patch updates the kernel to treat SVC_GARBAGE as an authentication error, mitigating the issue. The update is delivered as a live patch module for kernel-5.14.0-427.13.1.el9_4 and requires a system reboot to apply. Red Hat has issued this update as part of RHSA-2025:12977 with an important security impact rating.
Potential Impact
The vulnerability causes the kernel's sunrpc service to incorrectly handle certain authentication conditions, potentially allowing improper authentication processing. This could lead to security issues related to authentication errors. Red Hat rates the security impact as important, indicating a significant but not critical risk. No known exploits are reported in the wild at this time.
Mitigation Recommendations
Red Hat has released updated kpatch-patch modules for kernel-5.14.0-427.13.1.el9_4 as part of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.4 Extended Update Support. Applying these updates and rebooting the system is required to fully remediate the vulnerability. For detailed update instructions, refer to Red Hat's official guidance at https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258. No additional mitigation steps are indicated beyond applying the official patch and rebooting.
Technical Details
- Gcve Source
- db.gcve.eu
- Csaf Category
- csaf_security_advisory
- Csaf Version
- 2.0
- Publisher
- Red Hat Product Security
- Advisory Id
- RHSA-2025:12977
- Cve Count
- 1
Threat ID: 6a3caf124853345fc153d79e
Added to database: 06/25/2026, 04:31:14 UTC
Last enriched: 06/25/2026, 04:46:08 UTC
Last updated: 09/10/2026, 19:36:50 UTC
Views: 70
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