CVE-2025-71274 Linux CVE debrief

Who should care

Linux kernel developers and maintainers, Linux distribution maintainers, and users of Linux-based systems should assess exposure and prioritize verification of affected versions. They should review and apply patches to mitigate the vulnerability, monitor Linux kernel updates and security advisories, and verify affected versions and assess exposure.

Why it matters

A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's rpmsg driver can lead to a denial of service or potential code execution. Linux kernel developers and maintainers should assess exposure and prioritize verification of affected versions, as well as review and apply patches to mitigate the vulnerability.

• Verify affected Linux kernel versions and assess exposure
• Review and apply patches to mitigate the vulnerability
• Monitor Linux kernel updates and security advisories

Technical summary

The Linux kernel's rpmsg driver has a use-after-free vulnerability due to a race condition between the driver_override_show and driver_override_store functions. The show function reads the driver_override string without holding the device_lock, while the store function modifies and frees the string while holding the device_lock. This vulnerability can lead to a denial of service or potential code execution. Linux kernel developers and maintainers should assess exposure and prioritize verification of affected versions, as well as review and apply patches to mitigate the vulnerability.

Defensive priority

Linux kernel developers and maintainers should assess exposure and prioritize verification of affected versions, as well as review and apply patches to mitigate the vulnerability.

Recommended defensive actions

• Review and apply patches to mitigate the vulnerability
• Verify affected versions and assess exposure
• Monitor Linux kernel updates and security advisories
• Confirm whether affected product deployments exist in managed environments and assign an owner for follow-up
• Review the supplied official advisory or CVE record to validate affected scope, severity, and vendor guidance
• Plan vendor-supported updates or mitigations through normal change control where exposure is confirmed
• Check relevant monitoring, detection, and logs for exposed assets that need extra review

Evidence notes

The CVE Program record and NVD vulnerability detail provide official information about the vulnerability. The Linux kernel source code references provide additional context about the affected code. To verify affected versions, Linux kernel developers and maintainers should assess exposure and prioritize verification of affected versions, as well as review and apply patches to mitigate the vulnerability. This may involve checking Linux kernel updates and security advisories for further information.

Sources and references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.