CVE-2025-38018 net/tls: fix kernel panic when alloc_page failed
A null pointer dereference in the Linux kernel TLS module causes a kernel panic when page allocation fails, leading to denial of service.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2025-38018?
CVE-2025-38018 is a high-severity vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 18 Jun 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net/tls: fix kernel panic when alloc_page failed
We cannot set frag_list to NULL pointer when alloc_page failed. It will be used in tls_strp_check_queue_ok when the next time tls_strp_read_sock is called.
This is because we don't reset full_len in tls_strp_flush_anchor_copy() so the recv path will try to continue handling the partial record on the next call but we dettached the rcvq from the frag list. Alternative fix would be to reset full_len.
Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 0000000000000028 Call trace: tls_strp_check_rcv+0x128/0x27c tls_strp_data_ready+0x34/0x44 tls_data_ready+0x3c/0x1f0 tcp_data_ready+0x9c/0xe4 tcp_data_queue+0xf6c/0x12d0 tcp_rcv_established+0x52c/0x798
Weakness: CWE-476
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-38018?
It affects 2 products.
Products include Debian Debian Linux, Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2025-38018?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2025-38018 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-38018 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2025-38018, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-38018, GHSA-7vm4-fp9q-w3p6, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2025-38018, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2404-CVE-2025-38018, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38018.