Vulnerability · Published Nov 12, 2025 · Assigned by Linux
CVE-2025-40201kernel/sys.c: fix the racy usage of task_lock(tsk->group_leader) in sys_prlimit64() paths
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 4% of all known vulnerabilities). Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: kernel/sys.c: fix the racy usage of task_lock(tsk->group_leader) in sys_prlimit64() paths The usage of task_lock(tsk->group_leader) in sys_prlimit64()->do_prlimit() path is very broken. sys_prlimit64() does get_task_struct(tsk) but this only protects task_struct itself. If tsk != current and tsk is not a leader, this process can exit/exec and task_lock(tsk->group_leader) may use the already freed task_struct. Another problem is that sys_prlimit64() can race with mt-exec which changes ->group_leader. In this case do_prlimit() may take the wrong lock, or (worse) ->group_leader may change between task_lock() and task_unlock(). Change sys_prlimit64() to take tasklist_lock when necessary. This is not nice, but I don't see a better fix for -stable.
Affected packages & fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | linux | 6.1.158-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Debian:13 | linux | 6.12.57-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Debian:14 | linux | 6.17.6-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux | 6.8.0-106.106 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux | 6.17.0-14.14 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-allwinner-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-aws | 6.8.0-1050.53 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-aws | 6.17.0-1007.7 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.17 | 6.17.0-1007.7~24.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.8 | 6.8.0-1050.53~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure | 6.8.0-1051.57 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-azure | 6.17.0-1008.8 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.8 | 6.8.0-1051.57~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde | 6.8.0-1058.65 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-azure-fde | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.8 | 6.8.0-1058.65~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-nvidia | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-nvidia-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp | 6.8.0-1052.55 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-gcp | 6.17.0-1007.7 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.17 | 6.17.0-1008.8~24.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.8 | 6.8.0-1052.55~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gke | 6.8.0-1048.53 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gkeop | 6.8.0-1035.38 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-106.106~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-ibm | 6.8.0-1049.49 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-ibm-6.8 | 6.8.0-1049.49~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-intel-iot-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency | 6.8.0-106.106.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-106.106.1~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia | 6.8.0-1049.52 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.17 | 6.17.0-1008.8 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.8 | 6.8.0-1049.52~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-lowlatency | 6.8.0-1049.52.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 6.8.0-1020.20 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-5.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.0 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.1 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.17 | 6.17.0-1011.11 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oracle | 6.8.0-1047.48 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-oracle | 6.17.0-1007.7 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.17 | 6.17.0-1007.7~24.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.8 | 6.8.0-1047.48~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-raspi | 6.8.0-1050.54 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-raspi | 6.17.0-1008.8 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-realtime | 6.17.0-1006.7 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-riscv | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-riscv | 6.17.0-14.14.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.8 | 6.8.0-106.106~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-xilinx | 6.8.0-1028.29 | UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40201 |
Affected products (as reported)
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 18c91bb2d87268d23868bf13508f5bc9cf04e89a – before 1bc0d9315ef5296abb2c9fd840336255850ded1818c91bb2d87268d23868bf13508f5bc9cf04e89a – before 132f827e7bac7373e1522e89709d70b43cae534218c91bb2d87268d23868bf13508f5bc9cf04e89a – before 19b45c84bd9fd42fa97ff80c6350d604cb871c7518c91bb2d87268d23868bf13508f5bc9cf04e89a – before 6796412decd2d8de8ec708213bbc958fab72f14318c91bb2d87268d23868bf13508f5bc9cf04e89a – before a15f37a40145c986cdf289a4b88390f35efdecc4 |
| Linux | Linux | 5.18 |
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1bc0d9315ef5296abb2c9fd840336255850ded18
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/132f827e7bac7373e1522e89709d70b43cae5342
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/19b45c84bd9fd42fa97ff80c6350d604cb871c75
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6796412decd2d8de8ec708213bbc958fab72f143
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a15f37a40145c986cdf289a4b88390f35efdecc4