Vulnerability · Published Oct 28, 2025 · Assigned by Linux
CVE-2025-40040mm/ksm: fix flag-dropping behavior in ksm_madvise
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 0.4% (higher than 32% of all known vulnerabilities). Ready-made attack tooling exists: public proof-of-concept code. Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/ksm: fix flag-dropping behavior in ksm_madvise syzkaller discovered the following crash: (kernel BUG) [ 44.607039] ------------[ cut here ]------------ [ 44.607422] kernel BUG at mm/userfaultfd.c:2067! [ 44.608148] Oops: invalid opcode: 0000 [#1] SMP DEBUG_PAGEALLOC KASAN NOPTI [ 44.608814] CPU: 1 UID: 0 PID: 2475 Comm: reproducer Not tainted 6.16.0-rc6 #1 PREEMPT(none) [ 44.609635] Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS rel-1.16.3-0-ga6ed6b701f0a-prebuilt.qemu.org 04/01/2014 [ 44.610695] RIP: 0010:userfaultfd_release_all+0x3a8/0x460 <snip other registers, drop unreliable trace> [ 44.617726] Call Trace: [ 44.617926] <TASK> [ 44.619284] userfaultfd_release+0xef/0x1b0 [ 44.620976] __fput+0x3f9/0xb60 [ 44.621240] fput_close_sync+0x110/0x210 [ 44.622222] __x64_sys_close+0x8f/0x120 [ 44.622530] do_syscall_64+0x5b/0x2f0 [ 44.622840] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e [ 44.623244] RIP: 0033:0x7f365bb3f227 Kernel panics because it detects UFFD inconsistency during userfaultfd_release_all(). Specifically, a VMA which has a valid pointer to vma->vm_userfaultfd_ctx, but no UFFD flags in vma->vm_flags. The inconsistency is caused in ksm_madvise(): when user calls madvise() with MADV_UNMEARGEABLE on a VMA that is registered for UFFD in MINOR mode, it accidentally clears all flags stored in the upper 32 bits of vma->vm_flags. Assuming x86_64 kernel build, unsigned long is 64-bit and unsigned int and int are 32-bit wide. This setup causes the following mishap during the &= ~VM_MERGEABLE assignment. VM_MERGEABLE is a 32-bit constant of type unsigned int, 0x8000'0000. After ~ is applied, it becomes 0x7fff'ffff unsigned int, which is then promoted to unsigned long before the & operation. This promotion fills upper 32 bits with leading 0s, as we're doing unsigned conversion (and even for a signed conversion, this wouldn't help as the leading bit is 0). & operation thus ends up AND-ing vm_flags with 0x0000'0000'7fff'ffff instead of intended 0xffff'ffff'7fff'ffff and hence accidentally clears the upper 32-bits of its value. Fix it by changing `VM_MERGEABLE` constant to unsigned long, using the BIT() macro. Note: other VM_* flags are not affected: This only happens to the VM_MERGEABLE flag, as the other VM_* flags are all constants of type int and after ~ operation, they end up with leading 1 and are thus converted to unsigned long with leading 1s. Note 2: After commit 31defc3b01d9 ("userfaultfd: remove (VM_)BUG_ON()s"), this is no longer a kernel BUG, but a WARNING at the same place: [ 45.595973] WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 2474 at mm/userfaultfd.c:2067 but the root-cause (flag-drop) remains the same. [akpm@linux-foundation.org: rust bindgen wasn't able to handle BIT(), from Miguel]
Affected packages & fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | linux | 6.1.158-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Debian:13 | linux | 6.12.57-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Debian:14 | linux | 6.17.6-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux | 5.15.0-173.183 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux | 5.15.0-173.183 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux | 6.17.0-14.14 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux | 6.17.0-14.14 | USN-8029-1 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-allwinner-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws | 5.15.0-1103.110 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws | 5.15.0-1103.110 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-aws | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-aws | 6.17.0-1007.7 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-aws | 6.17.0-1007.7 | USN-8029-2 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.17 | 6.17.0-1007.7~24.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure | 5.15.0-1109.118 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-azure | 6.17.0-1008.8 | USN-8029-3 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-azure | 6.17.0-1008.8 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde | 5.15.0-1109.118.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-azure-fde | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-nvidia | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-nvidia-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp | 5.15.0-1103.112 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp | 5.15.0-1103.112 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-gcp | 6.17.0-1007.7 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-gcp | 6.17.0-1007.7 | USN-8030-1 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.17 | 6.17.0-1008.8~24.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gke | 5.15.0-1099.105 | USN-8096-3 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gke | 5.15.0-1099.105 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gke | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gkeop | 5.15.0-1086.94 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gkeop | 5.15.0-1086.94 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gkeop | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-ibm | 5.15.0-1097.100 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-ibm | 5.15.0-1097.100 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-ibm | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-ibm-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-intel-iot-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-intel-iotg | 5.15.0-1098.104 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-intel-iotg | 5.15.0-1098.104 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-kvm | 5.15.0-1095.100 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-kvm | 5.15.0-1095.100 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency | 5.15.0-173.183 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency | 5.15.0-173.183 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia | 5.15.0-1098.99 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia | 5.15.0-1098.99 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.17 | 6.17.0-1008.8 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-lowlatency | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 5.15.0-1055.55 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 5.15.0-1055.55 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 6.8.0-1035.38 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra-igx | 5.15.0-1044.44 | USN-8096-5 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra-igx | 5.15.0-1044.44 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-5.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.0 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.1 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.17 | 6.17.0-1011.11 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.17 | 6.17.0-1011.11 | USN-8048-1 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle | 5.15.0-1100.106 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle | 5.15.0-1100.106 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oracle | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-oracle | 6.17.0-1007.7 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-oracle | 6.17.0-1007.7 | USN-8029-2 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.17 | 6.17.0-1007.7~24.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-raspi | 5.15.0-1097.100 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-raspi | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-raspi | 6.17.0-1008.8 | USN-8029-1 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-raspi | 6.17.0-1008.8 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-realtime | 6.17.0-1006.7 | USN-8029-1 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-realtime | 6.17.0-1006.7 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-riscv | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-riscv | 6.17.0-14.14.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-vmware | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-xilinx | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-xilinx-zynqmp | 5.15.0-1067.71 | USN-8096-1 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-xilinx-zynqmp | 5.15.0-1067.71 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40040 |
Affected products (as reported)
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 63c17fb8e5a46a16e10e82005748837fd11a2024 – before 850f1ea245bdc0ce6a3fd36bfb80d8cf9647cb7163c17fb8e5a46a16e10e82005748837fd11a2024 – before 788e5385d0ff69cdba1cabccb9dab8d9647b923963c17fb8e5a46a16e10e82005748837fd11a2024 – before b69f19244c2b6475c8a6eb72f0fb0d53509e48cd63c17fb8e5a46a16e10e82005748837fd11a2024 – before 41cb9fd904fe0c39d52e82dd84dc3c96b7aa969363c17fb8e5a46a16e10e82005748837fd11a2024 – before 92b82e232b8d8b116ac6e57aeae7a6033db92c6063c17fb8e5a46a16e10e82005748837fd11a2024 – before ac50c6e0a8f91a02b681af81abb2362fbb67cc1863c17fb8e5a46a16e10e82005748837fd11a2024 – before 76385629f45740b7888f8fcd83bde955b10f61fe63c17fb8e5a46a16e10e82005748837fd11a2024 – before f04aad36a07cc17b7a5d5b9a2d386ce6fae63e93 |
| Linux | Linux | 4.6 |
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/850f1ea245bdc0ce6a3fd36bfb80d8cf9647cb71
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/788e5385d0ff69cdba1cabccb9dab8d9647b9239
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b69f19244c2b6475c8a6eb72f0fb0d53509e48cd
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/41cb9fd904fe0c39d52e82dd84dc3c96b7aa9693
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/92b82e232b8d8b116ac6e57aeae7a6033db92c60
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ac50c6e0a8f91a02b681af81abb2362fbb67cc18
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/76385629f45740b7888f8fcd83bde955b10f61fe
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f04aad36a07cc17b7a5d5b9a2d386ce6fae63e93