CVE-2025-68372
Unknown Unknown - Not Provided
Use-After-Free Vulnerability in Linux Kernel NBD recv_work Component

Publication date: 2025-12-24

Last updated on: 2025-12-24

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nbd: defer config put in recv_work There is one uaf issue in recv_work when running NBD_CLEAR_SOCK and NBD_CMD_RECONFIGURE: nbd_genl_connect // conf_ref=2 (connect and recv_work A) nbd_open // conf_ref=3 recv_work A done // conf_ref=2 NBD_CLEAR_SOCK // conf_ref=1 nbd_genl_reconfigure // conf_ref=2 (trigger recv_work B) close nbd // conf_ref=1 recv_work B config_put // conf_ref=0 atomic_dec(&config->recv_threads); -> UAF Or only running NBD_CLEAR_SOCK: nbd_genl_connect // conf_ref=2 nbd_open // conf_ref=3 NBD_CLEAR_SOCK // conf_ref=2 close nbd nbd_release config_put // conf_ref=1 recv_work config_put // conf_ref=0 atomic_dec(&config->recv_threads); -> UAF Commit 87aac3a80af5 ("nbd: call nbd_config_put() before notifying the waiter") moved nbd_config_put() to run before waking up the waiter in recv_work, in order to ensure that nbd_start_device_ioctl() would not be woken up while nbd->task_recv was still uncleared. However, in nbd_start_device_ioctl(), after being woken up it explicitly calls flush_workqueue() to make sure all current works are finished. Therefore, there is no need to move the config put ahead of the wakeup. Move nbd_config_put() to the end of recv_work, so that the reference is held for the whole lifetime of the worker thread. This makes sure the config cannot be freed while recv_work is still running, even if clear + reconfigure interleave. In addition, we don't need to worry about recv_work dropping the last nbd_put (which causes deadlock): path A (netlink with NBD_CFLAG_DESTROY_ON_DISCONNECT): connect // nbd_refs=1 (trigger recv_work) open nbd // nbd_refs=2 NBD_CLEAR_SOCK close nbd nbd_release nbd_disconnect_and_put flush_workqueue // recv_work done nbd_config_put nbd_put // nbd_refs=1 nbd_put // nbd_refs=0 queue_work path B (netlink without NBD_CFLAG_DESTROY_ON_DISCONNECT): connect // nbd_refs=2 (trigger recv_work) open nbd // nbd_refs=3 NBD_CLEAR_SOCK // conf_refs=2 close nbd nbd_release nbd_config_put // conf_refs=1 nbd_put // nbd_refs=2 recv_work done // conf_refs=0, nbd_refs=1 rmmod // nbd_refs=0 Depends-on: e2daec488c57 ("nbd: Fix hungtask when nbd_config_put")
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Meta Information
Published
2025-12-24
Last Modified
2025-12-24
Generated
2026-05-07
AI Q&A
2025-12-24
EPSS Evaluated
2026-05-05
NVD
CVE-2025-68372
Affected Vendors & Products
Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel *
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
CWE
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CWE ID Description
CWE-UNKNOWN
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?

This vulnerability is a use-after-free (UAF) issue in the Linux kernel's Network Block Device (NBD) driver, specifically in the recv_work function when handling NBD_CLEAR_SOCK and NBD_CMD_RECONFIGURE commands. The problem arises because the reference count to a configuration object (config_ref) is decremented too early, leading to the config being freed while still in use by the worker thread. This can cause the kernel to access freed memory, potentially leading to crashes or other unpredictable behavior. The fix involved moving the config_put call to the end of recv_work to ensure the configuration object remains valid for the entire lifetime of the worker thread.


How can this vulnerability impact me? :

This vulnerability can cause the Linux kernel to access freed memory, which may lead to system instability, crashes, or potential exploitation by attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service. Since it affects the kernel's NBD driver, systems using NBD could be at risk of these impacts if the vulnerability is triggered.


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