Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nf_reject: don't...
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
netfilter: nf_reject: don't leak dst refcount for loopback packets
recent patches to add a WARN() when replacing skb dst entry found an
old bug:
WARNING: include/linux/skbuff.h:1165 skb_dst_check_unset include/linux/skbuff.h:1164 [inline]
WARNING: include/linux/skbuff.h:1165 skb_dst_set include/linux/skbuff.h:1210 [inline]
WARNING: include/linux/skbuff.h:1165 nf_reject_fill_skb_dst+0x2a4/0x330 net/ipv4/netfilter/nf_reject_ipv4.c:234
[..]
Call Trace:
nf_send_unreach+0x17b/0x6e0 net/ipv4/netfilter/nf_reject_ipv4.c:325
nft_reject_inet_eval+0x4bc/0x690 net/netfilter/nft_reject_inet.c:27
expr_call_ops_eval net/netfilter/nf_tables_core.c:237 [inline]
..
This is because blamed commit forgot about loopback packets.
Such packets already have a dst_entry attached, even at PRE_ROUTING stage.
Instead of checking hook just check if the skb already has a route
attached to it.
Impact
CVE-2025-38732 has a CVSS score of 5.5 (Medium). The vector is requires local access, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. No fixed version is listed yet, so configuration controls and monitoring matter more in the interim.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2025-38732? CVE-2025-38732 is a medium-severity security vulnerability. No fixed version is listed yet.
- How severe is CVE-2025-38732? CVE-2025-38732 has a CVSS score of 5.5 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2025-38732? No fixed version is listed for CVE-2025-38732 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
- Is CVE-2025-38732 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2025-38732 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2025-38732 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.