CVE-2025-38491

mptcp: make fallback action and fallback decision atomic

Published Jul 28, 2025 · corrected/updated Oct 16, 2026 · linux linux kernel · evidence confidence high

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mptcp: make fallback action and fallback decision atomic Syzkaller reported the following splat: WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 7704 at net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 __mptcp_do_fallback net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 [inline] WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 7704 at net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 mptcp_do_fallback net/mptcp/protocol.h:1244 [inline] WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 7704 at net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 check_fully_established net/mptcp/options.c:982 [inline] WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 7704 at net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 mptcp_incoming_options+0x21a8/0x2510 net/mptcp/options.c:1153 Modules linked in: CPU: 1 UID: 0 PID: 7704 Comm: syz.3.1419 Not tainted 6.16.0-rc3-gbd5ce2324dba #20 PREEMPT(voluntary) Hardware name: QEMU Ubuntu 24.04 PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.16.3-debian-1.16.3-2 04/01/2014 RIP: 0010:__mptcp_do_fallback net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 [inline] RIP: 0010:mptcp_do_fallback net/mptcp/protocol.h:1244 [inline] RIP: 0010:check_fully_established net/mptcp/options.c:982 [inline] RIP: 0010:mptcp_incoming_options+0x21a8/0x2510 net/mptcp/options.c:1153 Code: 24 18 e8 bb 2a 00 fd e9 1b df ff ff e8 b1 21 0f 00 e8 ec 5f c4 fc 44 0f b7 ac 24 b0 00 00 00 e9 54 f1 ff ff e8 d9 5f c4 fc 90 0b 90 e9 b8 f4 ff ff e8 8b 2a 00 fd e9 8d e6 ff ff e8 81 2a 00 RSP: 0018:ffff8880a3f08448 EFLAGS: 00010246 RAX: 0000000000000000 RBX: ffff8880180a8000 RCX: ffffffff84afcf45 RDX: ffff888090223700 RSI: ffffffff84afdaa7 RDI: 0000000000000001 RBP: ffff888017955780 R08: 0000000000000001 R09: 0000000000000000 R10: 0000000000000000 R11: 0000000000000000 R12: 0000000000000000 R13: ffff8880180a8910 R14: ffff8880a3e9d058 R15: 0000000000000000 FS: 00005555791b8500(0000) GS:ffff88811c495000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 000000110c2800b7 CR3: 0000000058e44000 CR4: 0000000000350ef0 Call Trace: tcp_reset+0x26f/0x2b0 net/ipv4/tcp_input.c:4432 tcp_validate_incoming+0x1057/0x1b60 net/ipv4/tcp_input.c:5975 tcp_rcv_established+0

Grounded briefings

Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.

Executive

CVE-2025-38491 is a high public vulnerability record for linux linux kernel. It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited catalog. Check the linked vendor or CERT advisories for patch status. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.

System administrator

Identify whether linux linux kernel is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: Kernel (5.19.0 → 6.1.149); debian/debian linux (11.0); linux/linux kernel; linux/linux kernel (6.16). Check the linked vendor or CERT advisories for patch status. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.

Security analyst

Signals on file: CVSS 8.2, EPSS 0.2%. It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited catalog. Weakness classes: CWE-667. Sources contributing to this record: cve_org, epss, nvd, osv. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.

Exploitation and remediation

Exploitation evidence
Not listed as known exploited in CISA KEV. Not in the CISA KEV catalog.
Patch and remediation
No required-action text is stored yet. Use the vendor or CERT links in Sources for patch availability.
Safe detection guidance
Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

Jul 28, 2025 · NIST NVD
Detected
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mptcp: make fallback action and fallback decision atomic Syzkaller reported the following splat: WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 7704 at net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 __mptcp_do_fallback net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 [inline] WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 7704 at net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 mptcp_do_fallback net/mptcp/protocol.h:1244 [inline] WARNING: CPU: 1 P
Oct 15, 2026 · NIST NVD
Updated
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mptcp: make fallback action and fallback decision atomic Syzkaller reported the following splat: WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 7704 at net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 __mptcp_do_fallback net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 [inline] WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 7704 at net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 mptcp_do_fallback net/mptcp/protocol.h:1244 [inline] WARNING: CPU: 1 P
Oct 16, 2026 · OSV.dev
Fix available
Kernel fixed in 6.1.149
Oct 16, 2026 · OSV.dev
Fix available
Kernel fixed in 6.1.149
Oct 16, 2026 · OSV.dev
Updated
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mptcp: make fallback action and fallback decision atomic Syzkaller reported the following splat: WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 7704 at net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 __mptcp_do_fallback net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 [inline] WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 7704 at net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 mptcp_do_fallback net/mptcp/protocol.h:1244 [inline] WARNING: CPU: 1 P

Affected

Linux Kernel5.19.0 → 6.1.149
cpe debian/debian linux11.0
cpe linux/linux kernelversion unspecified
cpe linux/linux kernel6.16

Sources

CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2025-38491
Official CVE identifier
cve.org
FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2025-38491
30-day exploitation probability 0.2%
first.org
NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2025-38491
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mptcp: make fallback action and fallback decision atomic Syzkaller reported the following splat: WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 7704 at net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 __mptcp_do_fallback net/mptcp/protocol.h:1223 [inline]
nvd.nist.gov
OSV.devPackage advisoryCVE-2025-38491
mptcp: make fallback action and fallback decision atomic
osv.dev