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Use-after-free in Linux kernel BPF ring buffer IRQ work cleanup

IdentifiersCVE-2025-40319CWE-416

CVE-2025-40319 is a Linux kernel vulnerability in the BPF ring buffer subsystem caused by a race between queued irq_work and ring buffer teardown. The vulnerable condition occurs when bpf_ringbuf_commit() queues irq_work associated with a ring buffer, but the ring buffer is freed before that deferred work executes. In the reported syzbot reproducer, a BPF program attached to sched_switch triggers bpf_ringbuf_commit(), which queues rb->work; if teardown proceeds first, the irq_work handler can subsequently access memory belonging to the already-freed ring buffer. This results in a kernel use-after-free condition. The upstream fix synchronizes pending deferred work during cleanup by calling irq_work_sync(&rb->work) before freeing the ring buffer, ensuring all queued irq_work has completed.

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Impact, mitigation & remediation

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Impact

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Successful exploitation can cause the kernel to dereference freed memory from irq_work context, leading primarily to system instability or a kernel crash/denial of service. The supplied scoring context indicates high availability impact with no confirmed confidentiality or integrity impact. While use-after-free bugs in kernel context can sometimes be exploitable beyond denial of service, the provided information specifically supports a local availability impact.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

If immediate patching is not possible, reduce exposure by restricting untrusted local users from loading or interacting with BPF programs and by minimizing access to features that permit creation/use of vulnerable BPF ring buffers. Systems that disable or tightly gate unprivileged BPF usage reduce the practical attack surface. Because this is a kernel race in local BPF functionality, mitigation is limited and patching is the reliable fix.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Apply a kernel update that includes the upstream BPF fix for CVE-2025-40319. The documented remediation is to synchronize pending ring-buffer irq_work before freeing the buffer by invoking irq_work_sync(&rb->work) during teardown. Vendor advisories indicate fixed kernels are available in updated SUSE and related distributions; administrators should install the relevant patched kernel package for their platform and reboot into the updated kernel.
PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

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VALID 0 / 0 TOTALView more in app

No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.

ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

11 sources tracked across advisories and community write-ups. News coverage will land here when it surfaces.

No news coverage yet. Advisories and community discussion only.

What this page doesn’t show

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Threat actor evidence

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Associated malware

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Social activity3

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