Vulnerability · Published Feb 27, 2025 · Assigned by Linux
CVE-2025-21796nfsd: clear acl_access/acl_default after releasing them
Critical 9.8
In plain English
A critical-severity use-after-free 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 0.7% (higher than 52% of all known vulnerabilities). Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nfsd: clear acl_access/acl_default after releasing them If getting acl_default fails, acl_access and acl_default will be released simultaneously. However, acl_access will still retain a pointer pointing to the released posix_acl, which will trigger a WARNING in nfs3svc_release_getacl like this: ------------[ cut here ]------------ refcount_t: underflow; use-after-free. WARNING: CPU: 26 PID: 3199 at lib/refcount.c:28 refcount_warn_saturate+0xb5/0x170 Modules linked in: CPU: 26 UID: 0 PID: 3199 Comm: nfsd Not tainted 6.12.0-rc6-00079-g04ae226af01f-dirty #8 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.16.1-2.fc37 04/01/2014 RIP: 0010:refcount_warn_saturate+0xb5/0x170 Code: cc cc 0f b6 1d b3 20 a5 03 80 fb 01 0f 87 65 48 d8 00 83 e3 01 75 e4 48 c7 c7 c0 3b 9b 85 c6 05 97 20 a5 03 01 e8 fb 3e 30 ff <0f> 0b eb cd 0f b6 1d 8a3 RSP: 0018:ffffc90008637cd8 EFLAGS: 00010282 RAX: 0000000000000000 RBX: 0000000000000000 RCX: ffffffff83904fde RDX: dffffc0000000000 RSI: 0000000000000008 RDI: ffff88871ed36380 RBP: ffff888158beeb40 R08: 0000000000000001 R09: fffff520010c6f56 R10: ffffc90008637ab7 R11: 0000000000000001 R12: 0000000000000001 R13: ffff888140e77400 R14: ffff888140e77408 R15: ffffffff858b42c0 FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ffff88871ed00000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 0000562384d32158 CR3: 000000055cc6a000 CR4: 00000000000006f0 DR0: 0000000000000000 DR1: 0000000000000000 DR2: 0000000000000000 DR3: 0000000000000000 DR6: 00000000fffe0ff0 DR7: 0000000000000400 Call Trace: <TASK> ? refcount_warn_saturate+0xb5/0x170 ? __warn+0xa5/0x140 ? refcount_warn_saturate+0xb5/0x170 ? report_bug+0x1b1/0x1e0 ? handle_bug+0x53/0xa0 ? exc_invalid_op+0x17/0x40 ? asm_exc_invalid_op+0x1a/0x20 ? tick_nohz_tick_stopped+0x1e/0x40 ? refcount_warn_saturate+0xb5/0x170 ? refcount_warn_saturate+0xb5/0x170 nfs3svc_release_getacl+0xc9/0xe0 svc_process_common+0x5db/0xb60 ? __pfx_svc_process_common+0x10/0x10 ? __rcu_read_unlock+0x69/0xa0 ? __pfx_nfsd_dispatch+0x10/0x10 ? svc_xprt_received+0xa1/0x120 ? xdr_init_decode+0x11d/0x190 svc_process+0x2a7/0x330 svc_handle_xprt+0x69d/0x940 svc_recv+0x180/0x2d0 nfsd+0x168/0x200 ? __pfx_nfsd+0x10/0x10 kthread+0x1a2/0x1e0 ? kthread+0xf4/0x1e0 ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 ret_from_fork+0x34/0x60 ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 </TASK> Kernel panic - not syncing: kernel: panic_on_warn set ... Clear acl_access/acl_default after posix_acl_release is called to prevent UAF from being triggered.
Affected packages & fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | linux | 6.1.129-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Debian:13 | linux | 6.12.16-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Debian:14 | linux | 6.12.16-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux | 5.15.0-140.150 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux | 6.8.0-78.78 | USN-7703-1 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux | 6.8.0-78.78 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-allwinner-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws | 5.15.0-1084.91 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-aws | 6.8.0-1035.37 | USN-7703-1 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-aws | 6.8.0-1035.37 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.8 | 6.8.0-1035.37~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.8 | 6.8.0-1035.37~22.04.1 | USN-7703-2 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure | 5.15.0-1089.98 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure | 6.8.0-1034.39 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.11 | 6.11.0-1015.15~24.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.8 | 6.8.0-1034.39~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde | 5.15.0-1089.98.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-nvidia | 6.8.0-1022.23 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp | 5.15.0-1083.92 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp | 6.8.0-1036.38 | USN-7703-2 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp | 6.8.0-1036.38 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.11 | 6.11.0-1015.15~24.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.8 | 6.8.0-1036.38~22.04.1 | USN-7703-2 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.8 | 6.8.0-1036.38~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gke | 5.15.0-1081.87 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gke | 6.8.0-1032.36 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gke | 6.8.0-1032.36 | USN-7703-4 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gkeop | 5.15.0-1066.74 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gkeop | 6.8.0-1019.21 | USN-7703-2 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gkeop | 6.8.0-1019.21 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.11 | 6.11.0-26.26~24.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-78.78~22.04.1 | USN-7703-4 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-78.78~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-ibm | 5.15.0-1076.79 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-ibm | 6.8.0-1033.33 | USN-7703-2 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-ibm | 6.8.0-1033.33 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-ibm-6.8 | 6.8.0-1033.33~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-ibm-6.8 | 6.8.0-1033.33~22.04.1 | USN-7703-2 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-intel | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-intel-iot-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-intel-iotg | 5.15.0-1079.85 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-kvm | 5.15.0-1080.85 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency | 5.15.0-140.150 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency | 6.8.0-78.78.1 | USN-7703-1 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency | 6.8.0-78.78.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11 | 6.11.0-1014.15~24.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-78.78.1~22.04.1 | USN-7703-1 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-78.78.1~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia | 5.15.0-1078.79 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia | 6.8.0-1035.38 | USN-7703-4 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia | 6.8.0-1035.38 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.11 | 6.11.0-1010.10 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.8 | 6.8.0-1035.38~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.8 | 6.8.0-1035.38~22.04.1 | USN-7703-4 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-lowlatency | 6.8.0-1035.38.1 | USN-7703-4 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-lowlatency | 6.8.0-1035.38.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 5.15.0-1037.37 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 6.8.0-1009.9 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra-igx | 5.15.0-1026.26 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-5.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.0 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.1 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.11 | 6.11.0-1022.22 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle | 5.15.0-1081.87 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oracle | 6.8.0-1032.33 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oracle | 6.8.0-1032.33 | USN-7703-3 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.8 | 6.8.0-1032.33~22.04.1 | USN-7703-3 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.8 | 6.8.0-1032.33~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-raspi | 5.15.0-1078.81 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-raspi | 6.8.0-1035.39 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-raspi | 6.8.0-1035.39 | USN-7703-4 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-riscv | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.8 | 6.8.0-78.78~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-xilinx | 6.8.0-1017.18 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-xilinx-zynqmp | 5.15.0-1050.54 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-21796 |
Affected products (as reported)
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | a257cdd0e2179630d3201c32ba14d7fcb3c3a055 – before 8a1737ae42c928384ab6447f6ee1a882510e85faa257cdd0e2179630d3201c32ba14d7fcb3c3a055 – before 6f7cfee1a316891890c505563aa54f3476db52fda257cdd0e2179630d3201c32ba14d7fcb3c3a055 – before 2e59b2b68782519560b3d6a41dd66a3d01a01cd3a257cdd0e2179630d3201c32ba14d7fcb3c3a055 – before 55d947315fb5f67a35e4e1d3e01bb886b9c6decfa257cdd0e2179630d3201c32ba14d7fcb3c3a055 – before f8d871523142f7895f250a856f8c4a4181614510a257cdd0e2179630d3201c32ba14d7fcb3c3a055 – before 1fd94884174bd20beb1773990fd3b1aa877688d9a257cdd0e2179630d3201c32ba14d7fcb3c3a055 – before 7faf14a7b0366f153284db0ad3347c457ea70136 |
| Linux | Linux | 2.6.13 |
Weakness: CWE-416 · Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8a1737ae42c928384ab6447f6ee1a882510e85fa
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6f7cfee1a316891890c505563aa54f3476db52fd
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2e59b2b68782519560b3d6a41dd66a3d01a01cd3
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/55d947315fb5f67a35e4e1d3e01bb886b9c6decf
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f8d871523142f7895f250a856f8c4a4181614510
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1fd94884174bd20beb1773990fd3b1aa877688d9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7faf14a7b0366f153284db0ad3347c457ea70136
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/05/msg00030.html
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/03/msg00028.html
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-265688.html
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-082556.html
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-019113.html
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-457936.html
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-784472.html