In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
espintcp: remove encap socket caching to avoid reference leak
The current scheme for caching the encap socket can lead to reference
leaks when we try to delete the netns.
The reference chain is: xfrm_state -> enacp_sk -> netns
Since the encap socket is a userspace socket, it holds a reference on
the netns. If we delete the espintcp state (through flush or
individual delete) before removing the netns, the reference on the
socket is dropped and the netns is correctly deleted. Otherwise, the
netns may not be reachable anymore (if all processes within the ns
have terminated), so we cannot delete the xfrm state to drop its
reference on the socket.
This patch results in a small (~2% in my tests) performance
regression.
A GC-type mechanism could be added for the socket cache, to clear
references if the state hasn't been used "recently", but it's a lot
more complex than just not caching the socket.
espintcp: remove encap socket caching to avoid reference leak
The current scheme for caching the encap socket can lead to reference
leaks when we try to delete the netns.
The reference chain is: xfrm_state -> enacp_sk -> netns
Since the encap socket is a userspace socket, it holds a reference on
the netns. If we delete the espintcp state (through flush or
individual delete) before removing the netns, the reference on the
socket is dropped and the netns is correctly deleted. Otherwise, the
netns may not be reachable anymore (if all processes within the ns
have terminated), so we cannot delete the xfrm state to drop its
reference on the socket.
This patch results in a small (~2% in my tests) performance
regression.
A GC-type mechanism could be added for the socket cache, to clear
references if the state hasn't been used "recently", but it's a lot
more complex than just not caching the socket.
Metrics
Affected Vendors & Products
Advisories
| Source | ID | Title |
|---|---|---|
Debian DLA |
DLA-4328-1 | linux-6.1 security update |
Debian DSA |
DSA-5973-1 | linux security update |
EUVD |
EUVD-2025-19766 | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: espintcp: remove encap socket caching to avoid reference leak The current scheme for caching the encap socket can lead to reference leaks when we try to delete the netns. The reference chain is: xfrm_state -> enacp_sk -> netns Since the encap socket is a userspace socket, it holds a reference on the netns. If we delete the espintcp state (through flush or individual delete) before removing the netns, the reference on the socket is dropped and the netns is correctly deleted. Otherwise, the netns may not be reachable anymore (if all processes within the ns have terminated), so we cannot delete the xfrm state to drop its reference on the socket. This patch results in a small (~2% in my tests) performance regression. A GC-type mechanism could be added for the socket cache, to clear references if the state hasn't been used "recently", but it's a lot more complex than just not caching the socket. |
Ubuntu USN |
USN-7769-1 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities |
Ubuntu USN |
USN-7769-2 | Linux kernel (Real-time) vulnerabilities |
Ubuntu USN |
USN-7769-3 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities |
Ubuntu USN |
USN-7770-1 | Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities |
Ubuntu USN |
USN-7771-1 | Linux kernel (OEM) vulnerabilities |
Ubuntu USN |
USN-7789-1 | Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities |
Ubuntu USN |
USN-7789-2 | Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities |
Fixes
Solution
No solution given by the vendor.
Workaround
No workaround given by the vendor.
References
History
Tue, 16 Dec 2025 17:30:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| First Time appeared |
Debian
Debian debian Linux |
|
| Weaknesses | NVD-CWE-Other | |
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* |
|
| Vendors & Products |
Debian
Debian debian Linux |
Mon, 03 Nov 2025 18:30:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| References |
|
Fri, 04 Jul 2025 00:30:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| References |
| |
| Metrics |
threat_severity
|
cvssV3_1
|
Thu, 03 Jul 2025 08:30:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: espintcp: remove encap socket caching to avoid reference leak The current scheme for caching the encap socket can lead to reference leaks when we try to delete the netns. The reference chain is: xfrm_state -> enacp_sk -> netns Since the encap socket is a userspace socket, it holds a reference on the netns. If we delete the espintcp state (through flush or individual delete) before removing the netns, the reference on the socket is dropped and the netns is correctly deleted. Otherwise, the netns may not be reachable anymore (if all processes within the ns have terminated), so we cannot delete the xfrm state to drop its reference on the socket. This patch results in a small (~2% in my tests) performance regression. A GC-type mechanism could be added for the socket cache, to clear references if the state hasn't been used "recently", but it's a lot more complex than just not caching the socket. | |
| Title | espintcp: remove encap socket caching to avoid reference leak | |
| References |
|
|
Projects
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Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2025-11-03T17:34:02.117Z
Reserved: 2025-04-16T04:51:23.985Z
Link: CVE-2025-38097
No data.
Status : Analyzed
Published: 2025-07-03T09:15:23.030
Modified: 2025-12-16T17:16:50.913
Link: CVE-2025-38097
OpenCVE Enrichment
Updated: 2025-07-06T22:16:22Z
Weaknesses
Debian DLA
Debian DSA
EUVD
Ubuntu USN