CVE-2025-38721
netfilter: ctnetlink: fix refcount leak on table dump
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: ctnetlink: fix refcount leak on table dump There is a reference count leak in ctnetlink_dump_table(): if (res < 0) { nf_conntrack_get(&ct->ct_general); // HERE cb->args[1] = (unsigned long)ct; ... While its very unlikely, its possible that ct == last. If this happens, then the refcount of ct was already incremented. This 2nd increment is never undone. This prevents the conntrack object from being released, which in turn keeps prevents cnet->count from dropping back to 0. This will then block the netns dismantle (or conntrack rmmod) as nf_conntrack_cleanup_net_list() will wait forever. This can be reproduced by running conntrack_resize.sh selftest in a loop. It takes ~20 minutes for me on a preemptible kernel on average before I see a runaway kworker spinning in nf_conntrack_cleanup_net_list. One fix would to change this to: if (res < 0) { if (ct != last) nf_conntrack_get(&ct->ct_general); But this reference counting isn't needed in the first place. We can just store a cookie value instead. A followup patch will do the same for ctnetlink_exp_dump_table, it looks to me as if this has the same problem and like ctnetlink_dump_table, we only need a 'skip hint', not the actual object so we can apply the same cookie strategy there as well.
INFO
Published Date :
Sept. 4, 2025, 4:15 p.m.
Last Modified :
Sept. 5, 2025, 5:47 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
Source :
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Solution
- Apply the provided kernel patch.
- Update the Linux kernel to a fixed version.
- Test the fix using conntrack_resize.sh.
- Monitor for runaway kworker processes.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
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CVE-2025-38721.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2025-38721 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
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stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2025-38721
weaknesses.
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The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
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Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
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New CVE Received by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Sep. 04, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: ctnetlink: fix refcount leak on table dump There is a reference count leak in ctnetlink_dump_table(): if (res < 0) { nf_conntrack_get(&ct->ct_general); // HERE cb->args[1] = (unsigned long)ct; ... While its very unlikely, its possible that ct == last. If this happens, then the refcount of ct was already incremented. This 2nd increment is never undone. This prevents the conntrack object from being released, which in turn keeps prevents cnet->count from dropping back to 0. This will then block the netns dismantle (or conntrack rmmod) as nf_conntrack_cleanup_net_list() will wait forever. This can be reproduced by running conntrack_resize.sh selftest in a loop. It takes ~20 minutes for me on a preemptible kernel on average before I see a runaway kworker spinning in nf_conntrack_cleanup_net_list. One fix would to change this to: if (res < 0) { if (ct != last) nf_conntrack_get(&ct->ct_general); But this reference counting isn't needed in the first place. We can just store a cookie value instead. A followup patch will do the same for ctnetlink_exp_dump_table, it looks to me as if this has the same problem and like ctnetlink_dump_table, we only need a 'skip hint', not the actual object so we can apply the same cookie strategy there as well. Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/19b909a4b1452fb97e477d2f08b97f8d04095619 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/30cf811058552b8cd0e98dff677ef3f89d6d34ce Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/41462f4cfc583513833f87f9ee55d12da651a7e3 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/586892e341fbf698e7cbaca293e1353957db725a Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/962518c6ca9f9a13df099cafa429f72f68ad61f0 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a2cb4df7872de069f809de2f076ec8e54d649fe3 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a62d6aa3f31f216b637a4c71b7a8bfc7c57f049b Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/de788b2e6227462b6dcd0e07474e72c089008f74 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e14f72aa66c029db106921d621edcedef68e065b