Vulnerability · Published Dec 4, 2025 · Assigned by Linux
CVE-2025-40214af_unix: Initialise scc_index in unix_add_edge().
High 7.8
In plain English
A high-severity security flaw in Linux from Linux. There are no confirmed reports of exploitation so far. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 0.2% (higher than 9% of all known vulnerabilities). Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: af_unix: Initialise scc_index in unix_add_edge(). Quang Le reported that the AF_UNIX GC could garbage-collect a receive queue of an alive in-flight socket, with a nice repro. The repro consists of three stages. 1) 1-a. Create a single cyclic reference with many sockets 1-b. close() all sockets 1-c. Trigger GC 2) 2-a. Pass sk-A to an embryo sk-B 2-b. Pass sk-X to sk-X 2-c. Trigger GC 3) 3-a. accept() the embryo sk-B 3-b. Pass sk-B to sk-C 3-c. close() the in-flight sk-A 3-d. Trigger GC As of 2-c, sk-A and sk-X are linked to unix_unvisited_vertices, and unix_walk_scc() groups them into two different SCCs: unix_sk(sk-A)->vertex->scc_index = 2 (UNIX_VERTEX_INDEX_START) unix_sk(sk-X)->vertex->scc_index = 3 Once GC completes, unix_graph_grouped is set to true. Also, unix_graph_maybe_cyclic is set to true due to sk-X's cyclic self-reference, which makes close() trigger GC. At 3-b, unix_add_edge() allocates unix_sk(sk-B)->vertex and links it to unix_unvisited_vertices. unix_update_graph() is called at 3-a. and 3-b., but neither unix_graph_grouped nor unix_graph_maybe_cyclic is changed because both sk-B's listener and sk-C are not in-flight. 3-c decrements sk-A's file refcnt to 1. Since unix_graph_grouped is true at 3-d, unix_walk_scc_fast() is finally called and iterates 3 sockets sk-A, sk-B, and sk-X: sk-A -> sk-B (-> sk-C) sk-X -> sk-X This is totally fine. All of them are not yet close()d and should be grouped into different SCCs. However, unix_vertex_dead() misjudges that sk-A and sk-B are in the same SCC and sk-A is dead. unix_sk(sk-A)->scc_index == unix_sk(sk-B)->scc_index <-- Wrong! && sk-A's file refcnt == unix_sk(sk-A)->vertex->out_degree ^-- 1 in-flight count for sk-B -> sk-A is dead !? The problem is that unix_add_edge() does not initialise scc_index. Stage 1) is used for heap spraying, making a newly allocated vertex have vertex->scc_index == 2 (UNIX_VERTEX_INDEX_START) set by unix_walk_scc() at 1-c. Let's track the max SCC index from the previous unix_walk_scc() call and assign the max + 1 to a new vertex's scc_index. This way, we can continue to avoid Tarjan's algorithm while preventing misjudgments.
Affected packages & fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | linux | 6.1.159-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Debian:13 | linux | 6.12.63-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Debian:14 | linux | 6.17.9-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux | 6.17.0-12.12 | USN-8014-1 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux | 6.17.0-12.12 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-allwinner-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-aws | 6.17.0-1006.6 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-aws | 6.17.0-1006.6 | USN-8014-1 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.17 | 6.17.0-1007.7~24.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-azure | 6.17.0-1007.7 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-azure | 6.17.0-1007.7 | USN-8014-1 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-azure-fde | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-nvidia-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-gcp | 6.17.0-1006.6 | USN-8014-1 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-gcp | 6.17.0-1006.6 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.17 | 6.17.0-1008.8~24.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-intel-iot-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.17 | 6.17.0-1008.8 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-5.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.0 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.1 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.17 | 6.17.0-1010.10 | USN-8014-1 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.17 | 6.17.0-1010.10 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-oracle | 6.17.0-1006.6 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-oracle | 6.17.0-1006.6 | USN-8014-1 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.17 | 6.17.0-1007.7~24.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-raspi | 6.17.0-1007.7 | USN-8014-1 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-raspi | 6.17.0-1007.7 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-realtime | 6.17.0-1005.6 | USN-8014-1 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-realtime | 6.17.0-1005.6 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-riscv | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-riscv | 6.17.0-12.12.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40214 |
Affected products (as reported)
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | adfb68b39b39767d6bfb53e48c4f19c183765686 – before 20003fbb9174121b27bd1da6ebe61542ac4c327dd23802221f6755e104606864067c71af8cdb6788 – before 4cd8d755c7d4f515dd9abf483316aca2f1b7b0f3ad081928a8b0f57f269df999a28087fce6f2b6ce – before db81ad20fd8aef7cc7d536c52ee5ea4c1f979128ad081928a8b0f57f269df999a28087fce6f2b6ce – before 1aa7e40ee850c9053e769957ce6541173891204dad081928a8b0f57f269df999a28087fce6f2b6ce – before 60e6489f8e3b086bd1130ad4450a2c112e8637916.1.141 – before 6.1.1596.6.93 – before 6.6.117 |
| Linux | Linux | 6.10 |
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/20003fbb9174121b27bd1da6ebe61542ac4c327d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4cd8d755c7d4f515dd9abf483316aca2f1b7b0f3
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/db81ad20fd8aef7cc7d536c52ee5ea4c1f979128
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1aa7e40ee850c9053e769957ce6541173891204d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/60e6489f8e3b086bd1130ad4450a2c112e863791
- https://mohandacherir.github.io/Qdiv7/posts/unix_new_gc/
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-253495.html