CVE-2025-71090

Medium

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nfsd: fix nfsd_file reference leak in nfsd4_add_rdaccess_to_wrdeleg() nfsd4_add_rdaccess_to_wrdeleg() unconditionally overwrites fp->fi_fds[O_RDONLY] with a newly acquired nfsd_file. However, if the client already has a SHARE_ACCESS_READ open from a previous OPEN operation, this action overwrites the existing pointer without releasing its reference, orphaning the previous reference. Additionally, the function originally stored the same nfsd_file pointer in both fp->fi_fds[O_RDONLY] and fp->fi_rdeleg_file with only a single reference. When put_deleg_file() runs, it clears fi_rdeleg_file and calls nfs4_file_put_access() to release the file. However, nfs4_file_put_access() only releases fi_fds[O_RDONLY] when the fi_access[O_RDONLY] counter drops to zero. If another READ open exists on the file, the counter remains elevated and the nfsd_file reference from the delegation is never released. This potentially causes open conflicts on that file. Then, on server shutdown, these leaks cause __nfsd_file_cache_purge() to encounter files with an elevated reference count that cannot be cleaned up, ultimately triggering a BUG() in kmem_cache_destroy() because there are still nfsd_file objects allocated in that cache.

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2026-01-13
Last modified 2026-03-25
CVSS version 3.1
Patch available
Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

5.5

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

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 6.17 and later are affected. Fixed in 6.18.4, 6.19 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 6.17
Fixed in
✓ 6.18.4 6.18.x ✓ 6.19

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2025-71090 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2025-71090?

    CVE-2025-71090 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10 . It affects Linux kernel versions from 6.17 onward and has been patched in 6.18.4 and 6.19. CVE-2025-71090 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • What is the CVSS score for CVE-2025-71090?

    CVE-2025-71090 has a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, rated Medium severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H .

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2025-71090?

    Yes — CVE-2025-71090 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.18.4 and 6.19. If you are running Linux kernel 6.17 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • Is CVE-2025-71090 actively exploited?

    No — CVE-2025-71090 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.