CVE-2025-39682 Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions Vulnerability
Linux Kernel contains an improper check for unusual or exceptional conditions vulnerability in the TLS receive path which allows a zero-length record retrieved from the rx_list to bypass the intended recvmsg() record-type handling, potentially causing subsequent TLS records to be processed using incorrect zero-copy and queuing assumptions. The impacted product(s) could be end-of-life (EoL) and/or end-of-service (EoS). Users are advised to discontinue use and/or transition to a supported version.
From the CISA KEV catalogue version 2026.11.06, with Cybergen analysis. Updated 6 Nov 2026.
Should You Worry?
- CISA confirmed exploitation in the wild and added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 18 Sep 2026.
- Rated Critical severity (CVSS 9.8, scored by Vendor).
- It has been in the catalogue for 49 days. Systems still unpatched now have almost certainly been scanned for it.
What It Is
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tls: fix handling of zero-length records on the rx_list Each recvmsg() call must process either - only contiguous DATA records (any number of them) - one non-DATA record If the next record has different type than what has already been processed we break out of the main processing loop. If the record has already been decrypted (which may be the case for TLS 1.3 where we don't know type until decryption) we queue the pending record to the rx_list. Next recvmsg() will pick it up from there. Queuing the skb to rx_list after zero-copy decrypt is not possible, since in that case we decrypted directly to the user space buffer, and we don't have an skb to queue (darg.skb points to the ciphertext skb for access to metadata like length). Only data records are allowed zero-copy, and we break the processing loop after each non-data record. So we should never zero-copy and then find out that the record type has changed. The corner case we missed is when the initial record comes from rx_list, and it's zero length.
Affected Versions
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
| Linux Linux | 84c61fe1a75b4255df1e1e7c054c9e6d048da417 to before 2902c3ebcca52ca845c03182000e8d71d3a5196f 84c61fe1a75b4255df1e1e7c054c9e6d048da417 to before c09dd3773b5950e9cfb6c9b9a5f6e36d06c62677 84c61fe1a75b4255df1e1e7c054c9e6d048da417 to before 3439c15ae91a517cf3c650ea15a8987699416ad9 84c61fe1a75b4255df1e1e7c054c9e6d048da417 to before 29c0ce3c8cdb6dc5d61139c937f34cb888a6f42e 84c61fe1a75b4255df1e1e7c054c9e6d048da417 to before 62708b9452f8eb77513115b17c4f8d1a22ebf843 |
| Linux Linux | 6.0 |
From the public CVE record, as supplied by the vendor. Always confirm against the vendor advisory.
What To Do Now
- 1
Find it
Search your asset inventory and external attack surface for Linux Kernel. Include cloud images, appliances and anything a supplier runs for you.
Attack Surface Management - 2
Fix it
Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.
Vulnerability Management - 3
Hunt for compromise
If an affected system was reachable before you patched, assume it may have been hit. Check logs, new accounts, web shells and outbound connections from the date of exposure.
Incident Response - 4
Prove it is fixed
Rescan or test the system after patching. Upgrades that fail silently and forgotten secondary instances are common.
Penetration Testing
Vendor Advisories
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2902c3ebcca52ca845c03182000e8d71d3a5196f
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c09dd3773b5950e9cfb6c9b9a5f6e36d06c62677
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3439c15ae91a517cf3c650ea15a8987699416ad9
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/29c0ce3c8cdb6dc5d61139c937f34cb888a6f42e
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/62708b9452f8eb77513115b17c4f8d1a22ebf843
The Compliance Clock
General guidance, not legal advice. Your obligations depend on your sector, scope and jurisdiction.
Not Sure If You Are Exposed?
Our attack surface and vulnerability teams can check your internet-facing estate for CVE-2025-39682 and every other exploited flaw on the list.
Sources
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue
- NVD: CVE-2025-39682
- CVE record: CVE-2025-39682
- FIRST EPSS
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2902c3ebcca52ca845c03182000e8d71d3a5196f
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c09dd3773b5950e9cfb6c9b9a5f6e36d06c62677
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3439c15ae91a517cf3c650ea15a8987699416ad9
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/29c0ce3c8cdb6dc5d61139c937f34cb888a6f42e
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/62708b9452f8eb77513115b17c4f8d1a22ebf843
