CVE-2025-21655: Linux kernel · io_uring/eventfd: ensure io_eventfd_signal() defers another RCU period
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 10 Nov 2026, 14:04 UTC
Thin evidence
One scorer or none| CNA (Linux) | CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 |
|---|
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 20 Jan 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 10 Nov 2026.
What to do
AI-suggested
A fix for this vulnerability has been implemented in the Linux kernel by modifying the io_eventfd_signal handling to defer freeing io_ev_fd objects to another RCU grace period. Users should apply the official Linux kernel updates that include this fix.
Description
CVE-2025-21655 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel's io_uring/eventfd subsystem. The issue involves improper handling of reference counting and freeing of io_ev_fd objects within RCU callbacks, which could lead to use-after-free conditions. The flaw is addressed by deferring the freeing operation to another RCU grace period, ensuring safe memory management.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6b63308c28987c6010b1180c72a6db4df6c68033 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8efff2aa2d95dc437ab67c5b4a9f1d3f367baa10 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a7085c3ae43b86d4b3d1b8275e6a67f14257e3b7 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c9a40292a44e78f71258b8522655bffaf5753bdb (opens in a new tab)
- project-zero.issues.chromium.org/issues/388499293 (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/03/msg00001.html (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-019113.html (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-457936.html (opens in a new tab)