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CVE-2025-39797 Detail

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfrm: Duplicate SPI Handling The issue originates when Strongswan initiates an XFRM_MSG_ALLOCSPI Netlink message, which triggers the kernel function xfrm_alloc_spi(). This function is expected to ensure uniqueness of the Security Parameter Index (SPI) for inbound Security Associations (SAs). However, it can return success even when the requested SPI is already in use, leading to duplicate SPIs assigned to multiple inbound SAs, differentiated only by their destination addresses. This behavior causes inconsistencies during SPI lookups for inbound packets. Since the lookup may return an arbitrary SA among those with the same SPI, packet processing can fail, resulting in packet drops. According to RFC 4301 section 4.4.2 , for inbound processing a unicast SA is uniquely identified by the SPI and optionally protocol. Reproducing the Issue Reliably: To consistently reproduce the problem, restrict the available SPI range in charon.conf : spi_min = 0x10000000 spi_max = 0x10000002 This limits the system to only 2 usable SPI values. Next, create more than 2 Child SA. each using unique pair of src/dst address. As soon as the 3rd Child SA is initiated, it will be assigned a duplicate SPI, since the SPI pool is already exhausted. With a narrow SPI range, the issue is consistently reproducible. With a broader/default range, it becomes rare and unpredictable. Current implementation: xfrm_spi_hash() lookup function computes hash using daddr, proto, and family. So if two SAs have the same SPI but different destination addresses, then they will: a. Hash into different buckets b. Be stored in different linked lists (byspi + h) c. Not be seen in the same hlist_for_each_entry_rcu() iteration. As a result, the lookup will result in NULL and kernel allows that Duplicate SPI Proposed Change: xfrm_state_lookup_spi_proto() does a truly global search - across all states, regardless of hash bucket and matches SPI and proto.


Metrics

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CVSS 4.0 Severity and Vector Strings:

NIST CVSS score
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URL Source(s) Tag(s)
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/29e9158f91f99057dbd35db5e8674d93b38549fe kernel.org
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2fc5b54368a1bf1d2d74b4d3b8eea5309a653e38 kernel.org
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3d8090bb53424432fa788fe9a49e8ceca74f0544 kernel.org
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/94f39804d891cffe4ce17737d295f3b195bc7299 kernel.org
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c67d4e7a8f90fb6361ca89d4d5c9a28f4e935e47 kernel.org

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-ID CWE Name Source

Change History

1 change records found show changes

Quick Info

CVE Dictionary Entry:
CVE-2025-39797
NVD Published Date:
09/12/2025
NVD Last Modified:
09/12/2025
Source:
kernel.org