CVE-2025-38112 net: Fix TOCTOU issue in sk_is_readable()
A race condition in the Linux kernel network subsystem can cause a null pointer dereference, leading to a denial of service.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2025-38112?
CVE-2025-38112 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 3 Jul 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net: Fix TOCTOU issue in sk_is_readable()
sk->sk_prot->sock_is_readable is a valid function pointer when sk resides in a sockmap. After the last sk_psock_put() (which usually happens when socket is removed from sockmap), sk->sk_prot gets restored and sk->sk_prot->sock_is_readable becomes NULL.
This makes sk_is_readable() racy, if the value of sk->sk_prot is reloaded after the initial check. Which in turn may lead to a null pointer dereference.
Ensure the function pointer does not turn NULL after the check.
Weakness: CWE-367
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-38112?
It affects 2 products.
Products include Debian Debian Linux, Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2025-38112?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2025-38112 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-38112 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux
Sources
Also known as AZL-64553, BELL-CVE-2025-38112, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-38112, GHSA-4mp8-c9w5-ff64, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2025-38112, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2025-38112 and 3 more.