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Mallory
High

Linux kernel tcp_bpf improper cleanup on psock->cork allocation failure

IdentifiersCVE-2025-39913CWE-401

CVE-2025-39913 is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel tcp_bpf subsystem. In the affected code path, tcp_bpf_send_verdict() attempts to allocate psock->cork to retain data when a sk_msg BPF program uses bpf_msg_cork_bytes() and the transmitted data is smaller than the configured cork threshold, causing the data to be carried over to a subsequent sendmsg(). If allocation of psock->cork fails, the failure could occur silently due to fault injection combined with __GFP_NOWARN, and the code did not properly unwind state established by sk_msg_alloc(). Specifically, the sk->sk_forward_alloc accounting change was not reverted because sk_msg_free() was not called. The fix adds a call to sk_msg_free() when tcp_bpf_send_verdict() cannot allocate psock->cork and resets *copied to 0 so sendmsg() can return a proper error. The bug was reported by syzbot and manifested as a kernel warning during socket destruction at inet_sock_destruct().

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

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Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful triggering can leave socket memory/accounting state inconsistent, producing kernel warnings during socket teardown and potentially causing kernel instability or denial of service. The available supporting content primarily indicates availability impact through improper cleanup and corrupted forward-allocation accounting rather than a demonstrated confidentiality or integrity breach.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

Until patched, limit or disable use of BPF sockmap/sk_msg deployments that rely on bpf_msg_cork_bytes() in tcp_bpf paths, especially in environments where allocation failures may be induced or tested. Avoid enabling kernel fault injection outside controlled testing, and reduce exposure to untrusted local users capable of loading or attaching the relevant BPF programs and manipulating SOCKMAP-based traffic paths.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Update to a Linux kernel release that includes the tcp_bpf fix for CVE-2025-39913. The remediation is the upstream change that calls sk_msg_free() when tcp_bpf_send_verdict() fails to allocate psock->cork and sets *copied to 0 so the error is correctly propagated to sendmsg(). Vendor-fixed packages are available in downstream distributions including SUSE product lines referenced in the supporting content.
PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

No public exploits tracked yet. Mallory keeps watching.

VALID 0 / 0 TOTALView more in app

No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

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VendorProductType
DebianDebian Linuxoperating_system
LinuxLinux Kerneloperating_system

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ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

4 sources tracked across advisories and community write-ups. News coverage will land here when it surfaces.

No news coverage yet. Advisories and community discussion only.

What this page doesn’t show

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Threat actor evidence

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Associated malware

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Detection signatures

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Vendor-by-vendor mapping

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Social activity2

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