CVE-2025-40272

High

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/secretmem: fix use-after-free race in fault handler When a page fault occurs in a secret memory file created with `memfd_secret(2)`, the kernel will allocate a new folio for it, mark the underlying page as not-present in the direct map, and add it to the file mapping. If two tasks cause a fault in the same page concurrently, both could end up allocating a folio and removing the page from the direct map, but only one would succeed in adding the folio to the file mapping. The task that failed undoes the effects of its attempt by (a) freeing the folio again and (b) putting the page back into the direct map. However, by doing these two operations in this order, the page becomes available to the allocator again before it is placed back in the direct mapping. If another task attempts to allocate the page between (a) and (b), and the kernel tries to access it via the direct map, it would result in a supervisor not-present page fault. Fix the ordering to restore the direct map before the folio is freed.

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2025-12-06
Last modified 2026-07-30
CVSS version 3.1
Patch available
Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

7.8

out of 10
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 5.14 and later are affected. Fixed in 5.15.197, 6.1.159, 6.6.117, 6.12.59, 6.17.9, 6.18 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 5.14
Fixed in
✓ 5.15.197 5.15.x ✓ 6.1.159 6.1.x ✓ 6.6.117 6.6.x ✓ 6.12.59 6.12.x ✓ 6.17.9 6.17.x ✓ 6.18

References

6 total
Showing 5 of 6 references View all on NVD

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2025-40272?

    CVE-2025-40272 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10 . It affects Linux kernel versions from 5.14 onward and has been patched in 5.15.197, 6.1.159, 6.6.117 and others. CVE-2025-40272 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • What is the CVSS score for CVE-2025-40272?

    CVE-2025-40272 has a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10, rated High severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H .

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2025-40272?

    Yes. CVE-2025-40272 has been patched. Fixed versions include 5.15.197, 6.1.159, 6.6.117 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 5.14 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • Is CVE-2025-40272 actively exploited?

    No. CVE-2025-40272 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.

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