{
  "containers": {
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected",
          "product": "Linux",
          "programFiles": [
            "drivers/nvme/host/tcp.c"
          ],
          "repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
          "vendor": "Linux",
          "versions": [
            {
              "lessThan": "db1da838b6012e4570c6f81e28ffe1d0ff595948",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "104d0e2f622233477ef7e57e59e8a4c3bb062c82",
              "versionType": "git"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "e7143706702a209c814ed2c3fc6486c2a7decf6c",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "104d0e2f622233477ef7e57e59e8a4c3bb062c82",
              "versionType": "git"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "defaultStatus": "affected",
          "product": "Linux",
          "programFiles": [
            "drivers/nvme/host/tcp.c"
          ],
          "repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
          "vendor": "Linux",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "6.15"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "6.15",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "6.15.*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "6.15.4",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "6.16",
              "versionType": "original_commit_for_fix"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "cpeApplicability": [
        {
          "nodes": [
            {
              "cpeMatch": [
                {
                  "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                  "versionEndExcluding": "6.15.4",
                  "versionStartIncluding": "6.15",
                  "vulnerable": true
                },
                {
                  "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                  "versionEndExcluding": "6.16",
                  "versionStartIncluding": "6.15",
                  "vulnerable": true
                }
              ],
              "negate": false,
              "operator": "OR"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nnvme-tcp: remove tag set when second admin queue config fails\n\nCommit 104d0e2f6222 (\"nvme-fabrics: reset admin connection for secure\nconcatenation\") modified nvme_tcp_setup_ctrl() to call\nnvme_tcp_configure_admin_queue() twice. The first call prepares for\nDH-CHAP negotitation, and the second call is required for secure\nconcatenation. However, this change triggered BUG KASAN slab-use-after-\nfree in blk_mq_queue_tag_busy_iter(). This BUG can be recreated by\nrepeating the blktests test case nvme/063 a few times [1].\n\nWhen the BUG happens, nvme_tcp_create_ctrl() fails in the call chain\nbelow:\n\nnvme_tcp_create_ctrl()\n nvme_tcp_alloc_ctrl() new=true             ... Alloc nvme_tcp_ctrl and admin_tag_set\n nvme_tcp_setup_ctrl() new=true\n  nvme_tcp_configure_admin_queue() new=true ... Succeed\n   nvme_alloc_admin_tag_set()               ... Alloc the tag set for admin_tag_set\n  nvme_stop_keep_alive()\n  nvme_tcp_teardown_admin_queue() remove=false\n  nvme_tcp_configure_admin_queue() new=false\n   nvme_tcp_alloc_admin_queue()             ... Fail, but do not call nvme_remove_admin_tag_set()\n nvme_uninit_ctrl()\n nvme_put_ctrl()                            ... Free up the nvme_tcp_ctrl and admin_tag_set\n\nThe first call of nvme_tcp_configure_admin_queue() succeeds with\nnew=true argument. The second call fails with new=false argument. This\nsecond call does not call nvme_remove_admin_tag_set() on failure, due to\nthe new=false argument. Then the admin tag set is not removed. However,\nnvme_tcp_create_ctrl() assumes that nvme_tcp_setup_ctrl() would call\nnvme_remove_admin_tag_set(). Then it frees up struct nvme_tcp_ctrl which\nhas admin_tag_set field. Later on, the timeout handler accesses the\nadmin_tag_set field and causes the BUG KASAN slab-use-after-free.\n\nTo not leave the admin tag set, call nvme_remove_admin_tag_set() when\nthe second nvme_tcp_configure_admin_queue() call fails. Do not return\nfrom nvme_tcp_setup_ctrl() on failure. Instead, jump to \"destroy_admin\"\ngo-to label to call nvme_tcp_teardown_admin_queue() which calls\nnvme_remove_admin_tag_set()."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV3_1": {
            "baseScore": 9.8,
            "baseSeverity": "CRITICAL",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
            "version": "3.1"
          },
          "scenarios": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "value": "AV:N - The trigger \u2014 failure of the second admin-queue configuration \u2014 is entirely controlled by the remote NVMe-over-TCP target across the network (TCP reset, failed TLS-PSK handshake, or an error status to Connect/Enable/Identify). A malicious, compromised, or impersonated storage target attacks the initiator host\u0027s kernel purely over TCP.\nAC:L - A rogue target reproduces the condition on demand and 100% reliably by simply refusing or aborting the second connection; nothing depends on timing, memory layout, or state outside the attacker\u0027s control, and the bug reproduces after a few blktests nvme/063 iterations. The required kernel options (CONFIG_NVME_TCP_TLS, CONFIG_NVME_HOST_AUTH) are enabled in mainstream distribution kernels.\nPR:N - The attacker needs no privileges or credentials on the victim host, and the failing second connection happens before any successful mutual authentication. Because DH-CHAP is unidirectional by default (host authenticates to controller), an impersonating target can pass the first handshake without knowing the secret and then simply fail the TLS reconnect.\nUI:N - NVMe-oF controllers are created automatically by nvmf-autoconnect systemd/udev tooling at boot and after controller-loss timeouts, so no human action is required at exploitation time. The attacker only has to be the endpoint the host is already configured to connect to.\nS:U - The use-after-free is on a kernel slab object and its consequences stay entirely within the kernel\u0027s own security authority. No VM, IOMMU, or sandbox boundary is crossed.\nC:H - The freed nvme_tcp_ctrl containing the live blk_mq_tag_set is subsequently dereferenced by blk_mq_queue_tag_busy_iter(), which follows set-\u003etags[] pointers out of reclaimed heap memory. Reoccupying the slab yields an arbitrary kernel read primitive and leaks kernel pointers.\nI:H - The dangling tag set is used to call set-\u003eops-\u003etimeout(), an indirect call through a function-pointer table read from freed, sprayable heap memory, giving control-flow hijack and arbitrary write potential. Each failed connect attempt leaks another dangling object, allowing repeated heap grooming.\nA:H - The reported failure mode is a KASAN slab-use-after-free in blk_mq_queue_tag_busy_iter() leading to kernel oops/panic, and the corrupted structure is walked by the block-layer timeout worker. A remote attacker can induce it repeatedly on every connection attempt."
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-08-05T12:00:22.452Z",
        "orgId": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
        "shortName": "Linux"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/db1da838b6012e4570c6f81e28ffe1d0ff595948"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e7143706702a209c814ed2c3fc6486c2a7decf6c"
        }
      ],
      "title": "nvme-tcp: remove tag set when second admin queue config fails",
      "x_generator": {
        "engine": "bippy-1.2.0"
      }
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
    "assignerShortName": "Linux",
    "cveId": "CVE-2025-38209",
    "datePublished": "2025-07-04T13:37:28.853Z",
    "dateReserved": "2025-04-16T04:51:23.994Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-08-05T12:00:22.452Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2",
  "vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
    "epss": {
      "cve": "CVE-2025-38209",
      "date": "2026-09-16",
      "epss": "0.00311",
      "percentile": "0.23951"
    },
    "nvd": "{\"cve\":{\"id\":\"CVE-2025-38209\",\"sourceIdentifier\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"published\":\"2025-07-04T14:15:29.080\",\"lastModified\":\"2026-07-30T06:23:00.113\",\"vulnStatus\":\"Modified\",\"cveTags\":[],\"descriptions\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\\n\\nnvme-tcp: remove tag set when second admin queue config fails\\n\\nCommit 104d0e2f6222 (\\\"nvme-fabrics: reset admin connection for secure\\nconcatenation\\\") modified nvme_tcp_setup_ctrl() to call\\nnvme_tcp_configure_admin_queue() twice. The first call prepares for\\nDH-CHAP negotitation, and the second call is required for secure\\nconcatenation. However, this change triggered BUG KASAN slab-use-after-\\nfree in blk_mq_queue_tag_busy_iter(). This BUG can be recreated by\\nrepeating the blktests test case nvme/063 a few times [1].\\n\\nWhen the BUG happens, nvme_tcp_create_ctrl() fails in the call chain\\nbelow:\\n\\nnvme_tcp_create_ctrl()\\n nvme_tcp_alloc_ctrl() new=true             ... Alloc nvme_tcp_ctrl and admin_tag_set\\n nvme_tcp_setup_ctrl() new=true\\n  nvme_tcp_configure_admin_queue() new=true ... Succeed\\n   nvme_alloc_admin_tag_set()               ... Alloc the tag set for admin_tag_set\\n  nvme_stop_keep_alive()\\n  nvme_tcp_teardown_admin_queue() remove=false\\n  nvme_tcp_configure_admin_queue() new=false\\n   nvme_tcp_alloc_admin_queue()             ... Fail, but do not call nvme_remove_admin_tag_set()\\n nvme_uninit_ctrl()\\n nvme_put_ctrl()                            ... Free up the nvme_tcp_ctrl and admin_tag_set\\n\\nThe first call of nvme_tcp_configure_admin_queue() succeeds with\\nnew=true argument. The second call fails with new=false argument. This\\nsecond call does not call nvme_remove_admin_tag_set() on failure, due to\\nthe new=false argument. Then the admin tag set is not removed. However,\\nnvme_tcp_create_ctrl() assumes that nvme_tcp_setup_ctrl() would call\\nnvme_remove_admin_tag_set(). Then it frees up struct nvme_tcp_ctrl which\\nhas admin_tag_set field. Later on, the timeout handler accesses the\\nadmin_tag_set field and causes the BUG KASAN slab-use-after-free.\\n\\nTo not leave the admin tag set, call nvme_remove_admin_tag_set() when\\nthe second nvme_tcp_configure_admin_queue() call fails. Do not return\\nfrom nvme_tcp_setup_ctrl() on failure. Instead, jump to \\\"destroy_admin\\\"\\ngo-to label to call nvme_tcp_teardown_admin_queue() which calls\\nnvme_remove_admin_tag_set().\"},{\"lang\":\"es\",\"value\":\"En el kernel de Linux, se ha resuelto la siguiente vulnerabilidad: nvme-tcp: eliminar el conjunto de etiquetas cuando falla la configuraci\u00f3n de la segunda cola de administraci\u00f3n. El commit 104d0e2f6222 (\\\"nvme-fabrics: restablecer la conexi\u00f3n de administraci\u00f3n para una concatenaci\u00f3n segura\\\") modific\u00f3 nvme_tcp_setup_ctrl() para llamar a nvme_tcp_configure_admin_queue() dos veces. La primera llamada prepara la negociaci\u00f3n DH-CHAP y la segunda es necesaria para la concatenaci\u00f3n segura. Sin embargo, este cambio activ\u00f3 el error \\\"slab-use-after-free\\\" en blk_mq_queue_tag_busy_iter()\\\". Este error se puede recrear repitiendo el caso de prueba blktests nvme/063 varias veces [1]. Cuando ocurre el ERROR, nvme_tcp_create_ctrl() falla en la siguiente cadena de llamadas: nvme_tcp_create_ctrl() nvme_tcp_alloc_ctrl() new=true ... Asignar nvme_tcp_ctrl y admin_tag_set nvme_tcp_setup_ctrl() new=true nvme_tcp_configure_admin_queue() new=true ... Correcto nvme_alloc_admin_tag_set() ... Asignar el conjunto de etiquetas para admin_tag_set nvme_stop_keep_alive() nvme_tcp_teardown_admin_queue() remove=false nvme_tcp_configure_admin_queue() new=false nvme_tcp_alloc_admin_queue() ... Falla, pero no se llama nvme_remove_admin_tag_set() nvme_uninit_ctrl() nvme_put_ctrl() ... Libera nvme_tcp_ctrl y admin_tag_set La primera llamada de nvme_tcp_configure_admin_queue() tiene \u00e9xito con el argumento new=true. La segunda llamada falla con el argumento new=false. Esta segunda llamada no llama a nvme_remove_admin_tag_set() en caso de error, debido al argumento new=false. Entonces, el conjunto de etiquetas admin no se elimina. Sin embargo, nvme_tcp_create_ctrl() supone que nvme_tcp_setup_ctrl() llamar\u00eda a nvme_remove_admin_tag_set(). Luego libera la estructura nvme_tcp_ctrl que tiene el campo admin_tag_set. Posteriormente, el controlador de tiempo de espera accede al campo admin_tag_set y provoca el error \\\"BUG KASAN slab-use-after-free\\\". Para mantener la etiqueta admin activa, llame a nvme_remove_admin_tag_set() cuando falle la segunda llamada a nvme_tcp_configure_admin_queue(). No regrese de nvme_tcp_setup_ctrl() en caso de error. En su lugar, vaya a la etiqueta \\\"destroy_admin\\\" para llamar a nvme_tcp_teardown_admin_queue(), que a su vez llama a nvme_remove_admin_tag_set().\"}],\"affected\":[{\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"affectedData\":[{\"vendor\":\"Linux\",\"product\":\"Linux\",\"defaultStatus\":\"unaffected\",\"programFiles\":[\"drivers/nvme/host/tcp.c\"],\"repo\":\"https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git\",\"versions\":[{\"version\":\"104d0e2f622233477ef7e57e59e8a4c3bb062c82\",\"lessThan\":\"db1da838b6012e4570c6f81e28ffe1d0ff595948\",\"versionType\":\"git\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"104d0e2f622233477ef7e57e59e8a4c3bb062c82\",\"lessThan\":\"e7143706702a209c814ed2c3fc6486c2a7decf6c\",\"versionType\":\"git\",\"status\":\"affected\"}]},{\"vendor\":\"Linux\",\"product\":\"Linux\",\"defaultStatus\":\"affected\",\"programFiles\":[\"drivers/nvme/host/tcp.c\"],\"repo\":\"https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git\",\"versions\":[{\"version\":\"6.15\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"0\",\"lessThan\":\"6.15\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"},{\"version\":\"6.15.4\",\"lessThanOrEqual\":\"6.15.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"},{\"version\":\"6.16\",\"lessThanOrEqual\":\"*\",\"versionType\":\"original_commit_for_fix\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"}]}]}],\"metrics\":{\"cvssMetricV31\":[{\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"type\":\"Secondary\",\"cvssData\":{\"version\":\"3.1\",\"vectorString\":\"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H\",\"baseScore\":9.8,\"baseSeverity\":\"CRITICAL\",\"attackVector\":\"NETWORK\",\"attackComplexity\":\"LOW\",\"privilegesRequired\":\"NONE\",\"userInteraction\":\"NONE\",\"scope\":\"UNCHANGED\",\"confidentialityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"integrityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"availabilityImpact\":\"HIGH\"},\"exploitabilityScore\":3.9,\"impactScore\":5.9},{\"source\":\"nvd@nist.gov\",\"type\":\"Primary\",\"cvssData\":{\"version\":\"3.1\",\"vectorString\":\"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H\",\"baseScore\":7.8,\"baseSeverity\":\"HIGH\",\"attackVector\":\"LOCAL\",\"attackComplexity\":\"LOW\",\"privilegesRequired\":\"LOW\",\"userInteraction\":\"NONE\",\"scope\":\"UNCHANGED\",\"confidentialityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"integrityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"availabilityImpact\":\"HIGH\"},\"exploitabilityScore\":1.8,\"impactScore\":5.9}]},\"weaknesses\":[{\"source\":\"nvd@nist.gov\",\"type\":\"Primary\",\"description\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"CWE-416\"}]}],\"configurations\":[{\"nodes\":[{\"operator\":\"OR\",\"negate\":false,\"cpeMatch\":[{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"versionStartIncluding\":\"6.15\",\"versionEndExcluding\":\"6.15.4\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"39658889-E0DA-4E0A-92D1-0621707CF733\"}]}]}],\"references\":[{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/db1da838b6012e4570c6f81e28ffe1d0ff595948\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"tags\":[\"Patch\"]},{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e7143706702a209c814ed2c3fc6486c2a7decf6c\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"tags\":[\"Patch\"]}]}}",
    "redhat_vex": {
      "aggregate_severity": "Moderate",
      "current_release_date": "2026-07-30T09:13:41+00:00",
      "cve": "CVE-2025-38209",
      "id": "CVE-2025-38209",
      "initial_release_date": "2025-07-04T00:00:00+00:00",
      "product_status:known_affected": "108",
      "product_status:known_not_affected": "166",
      "source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "kernel: nvme-tcp: remove tag set when second admin queue config fails",
      "url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2025/cve-2025-38209.json",
      "version": "3"
    },
    "suse_vex": {
      "aggregate_severity": "moderate",
      "current_release_date": "2026-09-01T13:47:56Z",
      "cve": "CVE-2025-38209",
      "id": "CVE-2025-38209",
      "initial_release_date": "2025-07-07T23:23:55Z",
      "product_status:first_fixed": "2",
      "product_status:known_affected": "394",
      "product_status:known_not_affected": "474",
      "product_status:recommended": "247",
      "source": "SUSE CSAF VEX",
      "status": "interim",
      "title": "SUSE CVE CVE-2025-38209",
      "url": "https://ftp.suse.com/pub/projects/security/csaf-vex/cve-2025-38209.json",
      "version": "32"
    }
  }
}