Use After Free in Linux

CVE-2025-21731

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nbd: don't allow reconnect after disconnect Following process can cause nbd_config UAF: 1) grab nbd_config temporarily; 2) nbd_genl_disconnect() flush all recv_work() and release the initial reference: nbd_genl_disconnect nbd_disconnect_and_put nbd_disconnect flush_workqueue(nbd->recv_workq) if (test_and_clear_bit(NBD_RT_HAS_CONFIG_REF, ...)) nbd_config_put -> due to step 1), reference is still not zero 3) nbd_genl_reconfigure() queue recv_work() again; nbd_genl_reconfigure config = nbd_get_config_unlocked(nbd) if (!config) -> succeed if (!test_bit(NBD_RT_BOUND, ...)) -> succeed nbd_reconnect_socket queue_work(nbd->recv_workq, &args->work) 4) step 1) release the reference; 5) Finially, recv_work() will trigger UAF: recv_work nbd_config_put(nbd) -> nbd_config is freed atomic_dec(&config->recv_threads) -> UAF Fix the problem by clearing NBD_RT_BOUND in nbd_genl_disconnect(), so that nbd_genl_reconfigure() will fail.

Vulnerability class: Use-After-Free

EPSS: 0.002 (12.5th 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

Weakness classification (CWE)

Public proof-of-concept exploits

References

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2025-21731?
CVE-2025-21731 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-2025-21731?
High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 7.8 out of 10.
Is CVE-2025-21731 known to be exploited?
1 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.