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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2025-21673: Linux kernel · smb: client: fix double free of TCP_Server_Info::hostname

Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database

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Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.8 Critical.

Data as of 30 Oct 2026, 14:18 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
9.8Critical
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.

Contested

Scorers differ by 2 or more points
CVSS scores by source
CNA (Linux)CVSS 3.19.8
CISA-ADPCVSS 3.15.5
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 31 Jan 2025

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponized: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq 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

ProductAffectedFixed in
Linux LinuxAffected
  • =5.14.19
  • =5.15.3
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

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