Use After Free in Linux
CVE-2025-21726
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: padata: avoid UAF for reorder_work Although the previous patch can avoid ps and ps UAF for _do_serial, it can not avoid potential UAF issue for reorder_work. This issue can happen just as below: crypto_request crypto_request crypto_del_alg padata_do_serial ... padata_reorder // processes all remaining // requests then breaks while (1) { if (!padata) break; ... } padata_do_serial // new request added list_add // sees the new request queue_work(reorder_work) padata_reorder queue_work_on(squeue->work) ... <kworker context> padata_serial_worker // completes new request, // no more outstanding // requests crypto_del_alg // free pd <kworker context> invoke_padata_reorder // UAF of pd To avoid UAF for 'reorder_work', get 'pd' ref before put 'reorder_work' into the 'serial_wq' and put 'pd' ref until the 'serial_wq' finish.
Vulnerability class: Use-After-Free
EPSS: 0.002 (13.4th percentile) — read the EPSS interpretation.
CVSS v3 metric
CVSS v3 base score 7.8 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
Affected products
- Linux — versions 5.6, b4c8ed0bf977760a206997b6429a7ac91978f440, 6.6.76
- Linux Linux_kernel
Weakness classification (CWE)
Public proof-of-concept exploits
References
- 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 (Patch)
- 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 (Patch)
- 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 (Patch)
- 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 (Patch)
- 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 (Patch)
- 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 (Patch)
- 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 (Patch)
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
- 0b142b55-0307-4c5a-b3c9-f314f3fb7c5e
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2025-21726?
- CVE-2025-21726 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux, classified under Use After Free. CVSS score: 7.8/10. Published 2025-02-27.
- How severe is CVE-2025-21726?
- High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 7.8 out of 10.
- Is CVE-2025-21726 known to be exploited?
- 2 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.