Patchfirst
CVE-2025-39964 KEVPublic exploit Medium · 5.5 EPSS 1.6%

Linux Kernel Race Condition Vulnerability

Linux · Kernel

Summary

The Linux kernel's af_alg crypto socket interface (crypto subsystem) fails to prevent concurrent writes to the same socket in af_alg_sendmsg, a race condition that can interleave data unpredictably and corrupt internal socket state. An attacker with local access and low privileges, with no user interaction needed and no special configuration indicated, could trigger the race by issuing simultaneous writes to the same socket, causing a denial of service.

Official description · NVD

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: crypto: af_alg - Disallow concurrent writes in af_alg_sendmsg Issuing two writes to the same af_alg socket is bogus as the data will be interleaved in an unpredictable fashion. Furthermore, concurrent writes may create inconsistencies in the internal socket state. Disallow this by adding a new ctx->write field that indiciates exclusive ownership for writing.

Breakdown
71.9 / 100
Exploited
Yes, in CISA KEV
Reports
0
Tactics
2/15

How an attack unfolds

Based on mappings. Select a step to see the evidence.
  1. How attackers get in

  2. What they do

First seen exploited 11 months after disclosure. Public exploit code (PoC-in-GitHub) appeared 31 days after disclosure.

  1. Disclosedday 0
  2. Public exploit codePoC-in-GitHub+31 days
  3. First seen exploitedVulnCheck KEV evidenceAdded to CISA KEVEU database agrees+11 mo

CISA KEV listing is when exploitation was confirmed, not necessarily the first attack.

techniques

2 , grouped by in kill-chain order, 2 cited passages 2

Privilege EscalationTA0004

Exploitation for Privilege Escalation T1068 Medium
AI mapping from the description · how it is exploited

local kernel bug requires privilege escalation exploitation

Issuing two writes to the same af_alg socket is bogus
From the official description (NVD) Original (opens in a new tab) ↗

ImpactTA0040

Application or System Exploitation T1499.004 Medium
AI mapping from the description · primary impact

socket state corruption causes availability impact

concurrent writes may create inconsistencies in the internal
From the official description (NVD) Original (opens in a new tab) ↗

Detection

0 rules for this CVE · 34 general rules for its techniques

Rules for this CVE

0 that reference CVE-2025-39964 directly.

CVE-specific rules are not available in this build. Search SigmaHQ ↗

General rules for this CVE’s techniques

These detect the technique in general, not this specific vulnerability.

Sigma rules © SigmaHQ, Detection Rule License 1.1; linked, not reproduced.

What security researchers reported

Not named in any threat report yet

Also mentioned in 31 community threat pulses (AlienVault OTX)

Weaker evidence

Pulses are indicator collections that anyone can publish. A mention is not confirmation of exploitation.

References

10 links, grouped by NVD tag
↑ ↓ chooseEnter openEsc close