Linux Kernel Race Condition Vulnerability

CISA Description

Linux Kernel contains a race condition vulnerability which allows concurrent writes to the same AF_ALG socket causing data to be unpredictably interleaved and creating inconsistencies in the socket's internal state.

Required action

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.

Notes

This vulnerability affects an open-source component, third-party library, protocol, or proprietary implementation that could be used by different products. For more information, please see: ; https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0f28c4adbc4a97437874c9b669fd7958a8c6d6ce; https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e4c1ec11132ec466f7362a95f36a506ce4dc08c9; https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1f323a48e9b5ebfe6dc7d130fdf5c3c0e92a07c8; https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7c4491b5644e3a3708f3dbd7591be0a570135b84; https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9aee87da5572b3a14075f501752e209801160d3d; https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/45bcf60fe49b37daab1acee57b27211ad1574042; https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1b34cbbf4f011a121ef7b2d7d6e6920a036d5285 ; BOD 26-04: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-26-04-prioritizing-security-updates-based-risk ; Forensics Triage Requirements: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-26-04-implementation-guidance-prioritizing-security-updates-based-risk ; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-39964

NVD Technical Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: crypto: af_alg - Disallow concurrent writes in af_alg_sendmsg Issuing two writes to the same af_alg socket is bogus as the data will be interleaved in an unpredictable fashion. Furthermore, concurrent writes may create inconsistencies in the internal socket state. Disallow this by adding a new ctx->write field that indiciates exclusive ownership for writing.