CVE-2025-21796: Linux kernel · nfsd: clear acl_access/acl_default after releasing them
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.8 Critical.
Data as of 10 Nov 2026, 14:02 UTC
Contested
Scorers differ by 2 or more points| CNA (Linux) | CVSS 3.1 | 9.8 |
|---|---|---|
| CISA-ADP | CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 |
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 27 Feb 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 is available as the vulnerability has been resolved in the Linux kernel by clearing acl_access and acl_default pointers after releasing them. Users should update to the fixed kernel version once available. No additional mitigations are specified.
Description
CVE-2025-21796 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's NFS daemon (nfsd) related to improper handling of ACL (Access Control List) pointers. When getting acl_default fails, both acl_access and acl_default are released simultaneously, but acl_access retains a pointer to freed memory, causing a kernel warning and potential kernel panic. This flaw can lead to system instability or crashes.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8a1737ae42c928384ab6447f6ee1a882510e85fa (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6f7cfee1a316891890c505563aa54f3476db52fd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2e59b2b68782519560b3d6a41dd66a3d01a01cd3 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/55d947315fb5f67a35e4e1d3e01bb886b9c6decf (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f8d871523142f7895f250a856f8c4a4181614510 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1fd94884174bd20beb1773990fd3b1aa877688d9 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7faf14a7b0366f153284db0ad3347c457ea70136 (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/05/msg00030.html (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/03/msg00028.html (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-265688.html (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-082556.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)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-784472.html (opens in a new tab)