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Vulnerability DatabaseCVE-2025-38546
CVE-2025-38546:
Linux Kernel vulnerability analysis and mitigation
Overview
CVE-2025-38546 is a memory leak vulnerability discovered in the Linux kernel's ATM CLIP (Classical IP over ATM) implementation. The vulnerability was disclosed on August 16, 2025, affecting the kernel's handling of struct clip_vcc allocation (NVD).
Technical details
The vulnerability occurs when ioctl(ATMARPMKIP) allocates struct clipvcc and sets it to vcc->userback. While the code expects vccdestroysocket() to pass NULL skb to vcc->push() when the socket is closed, allowing clippush() to free clipvcc, the ioctl(ATMARPDCTRL) sets NULL to vcc->push() in atminitatmarp(), resulting in a memory leak (Debian Security).
Impact
The vulnerability leads to memory leaks in the Linux kernel's ATM networking subsystem, which could potentially result in system resource exhaustion over time (NVD).
Mitigation and workarounds
The issue has been addressed by serializing the two ioctl() calls using locksock() and implementing a check for vcc->push() in atminit_atmarp(). Fixed versions are available in Linux kernel 6.1.147-1 for Debian bookworm, 6.12.41-1 for Debian trixie, and 6.16.3-1 for Debian sid (Debian Security).
Additional resources
Source: This report was generated using AI
Related Linux Kernel vulnerabilities:
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