Kernel Vulnerability in Linux Kernel Affecting TCP Socket Communication

CVE-2025-38166

What is CVE-2025-38166?

A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's handling of TCP socket communication can lead to a kernel panic due to improper management of message iterations during buffer transactions. Specifically, when the BPF program modifies the message size, the system may encounter a situation where the expected size does not align with the actual data size, leading to a potential crash. This issue highlights the complexities involved in zero-copy logic when corking data and emphasizes the need for careful handling of message buffers to prevent instability within the kernel.

References