CVE-2025-43915: Github.com/linkerd/linkerd2 Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-42mr-jpwh-m9rv
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CVSS 6.5
CWE-400
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2025-43915 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.5) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption) affecting Github.com/linkerd/linkerd2 libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves linkerd resource exhaustion vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 0.0.0-20250212165942-faa3f617eef5.

CVE-2025-43915 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2025-43915
GHSA Identifier GHSA-42mr-jpwh-m9rv
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.5
CWE Classification CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption
Affected Product Github.com/linkerd/linkerd2
Package Ecosystem Go
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality None (C:N)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2025-43915

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Github.com/linkerd/linkerd2 dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

github.com/linkerd/linkerd2 fixed: 0.0.0-20250212165942-faa3f617eef5 
Upgrade github.com/linkerd/linkerd2 to 0.0.0-20250212165942-faa3f617eef5
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for github.com/linkerd/linkerd2

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2025-43915, inspect your project dependencies for Github.com/linkerd/linkerd2:

inspect dependencies for github.com/linkerd/linkerd2

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Github.com/linkerd/linkerd2 in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 0.0.0-20250212165942-faa3f617eef5), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption, where the product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource. In Github.com/linkerd/linkerd2, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

In Linkerd edge releases before edge-25.2.1, and Buoyant Enterprise for Linkerd releases 2.13.0–2.13.7, 2.14.0–2.14.10, 2.15.0–2.15.7, 2.16.0–2.16.4, and 2.17.0–2.17.1, resource exhaustion can occur for Linkerd proxy metrics.

CVE-2025-43915 Affected Github.com/linkerd/linkerd2 Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
0.0.0-20250212165942-faa3f617eef5
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
github.com/linkerd/linkerd2
golang/github.com/linkerd/linkerd2
Go
< 0.0.0-20250212165942-faa3f617eef5
0.0.0-20250212165942-faa3f617eef5

References

NVD — CVE-2025-43915 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-43915
Github.com/linkerd/linkerd2 Security Information SECURITY
https://docs.buoyant.io/security/advisories/2025-01
Github.com/linkerd/linkerd2 Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/linkerd/linkerd2
pkg.go.dev/vuln/go-2025-3664 WEB
https://pkg.go.dev/vuln/GO-2025-3664
www.buoyant.io/resources WEB
https://www.buoyant.io/resources

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-43915?
CVE-2025-43915 is a security vulnerability in Github.com/linkerd/linkerd2 involving Linkerd resource exhaustion vulnerability under CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption.
Which Github.com/linkerd/linkerd2 versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 0.0.0-20250212165942-faa3f617eef5 across affected packages: github.com/linkerd/linkerd2.
What version fixes CVE-2025-43915?
Upgrading to 0.0.0-20250212165942-faa3f617eef5 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is github.com/linkerd/linkerd2 affected?
Yes, github.com/linkerd/linkerd2 is affected in releases prior to 0.0.0-20250212165942-faa3f617eef5. Upgrade your dependency to 0.0.0-20250212165942-faa3f617eef5 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2025-43915?
CVE-2025-43915 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2025-43915?
CVE-2025-43915 is classified under CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption (The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource.).
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2025-43915?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for github.com/linkerd/linkerd2'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-42mr-jpwh-m9rv",
  "modified" : "2025-05-20T20:26:16Z",
  "published" : "2025-05-05T18:32:53Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2025-43915" ],
  "summary" : "Linkerd resource exhaustion vulnerability",
  "details" : "In Linkerd edge releases before edge-25.2.1, and Buoyant Enterprise for Linkerd releases 2.13.0–2.13.7, 2.14.0–2.14.10, 2.15.0–2.15.7, 2.16.0–2.16.4, and 2.17.0–2.17.1, resource exhaustion can occur for Linkerd proxy metrics.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "github.com/linkerd/linkerd2"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "0.0.0-20250212165942-faa3f617eef5"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-43915"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://docs.buoyant.io/security/advisories/2025-01"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/linkerd/linkerd2"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://pkg.go.dev/vuln/GO-2025-3664"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.buoyant.io/resources"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-400" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-05-06T00:38:55Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2025-05-05T17:18:49Z"
  }
}