CVE-2025-21673: Linux kernel · smb: client: fix double free of TCP_Server_Info::hostname
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.8 Critical.
Data as of 30 Oct 2026, 14:18 UTC
Contested
Scorers differ by 2 or more points| CNA (Linux) | CVSS 3.1 | 9.8 |
|---|---|---|
| CISA-ADP | CVSS 3.1 | 5.5 |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 31 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 30 Oct 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| Linux Linux | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
A fix is available for this vulnerability in the Linux kernel versions 5.14.19 and 5.15.3. Users and administrators should upgrade to these fixed versions or later to remediate the issue. No additional mitigations are specified.
Description
CVE-2025-21673 is a critical vulnerability in the Linux kernel's SMB client implementation. It involves a double free of the TCP_Server_Info::hostname object during server shutdown in the cifs_put_tcp_session() function. This flaw can lead to kernel crashes or potential arbitrary code execution due to memory corruption. The issue occurs when the cifsd thread reconnects to multiple DFS targets and frees the hostname prematurely. The vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions 5.14.19 and 5.15.3.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/35455f6c9326a8d10e91f3d5ba9260ab795b7d9a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1ea68070338518a1d31ce71e6abfe1b30001b27a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a2be5f2ba34d0c6d5ef2624b24e3d852561fcd6a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/fa2f9906a7b333ba757a7dbae0713d8a5396186e (opens in a new tab)