CVE-2025-21887: Linux kernel · Use After Free
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 10 Nov 2026, 13:49 UTC
Sources agree
| CNA (Linux) | CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 |
|---|---|---|
| CISA-ADP | 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 27 Mar 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
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| Linux Linux | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
A fix is available that addresses the vulnerability by adjusting the timing of the dput call in the overlay filesystem code. Users should update to patched versions of the Linux kernel that include this fix. The affected versions are 5.10.188, 5.15.121, 6.1.39, 6.3.13, and 6.4.4. No additional mitigations are indicated by the vendor advisory.
Description
CVE-2025-21887 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's overlay filesystem (ovl) component. The flaw occurs due to premature release of a dentry reference (dput) before its last use, leading to potential memory corruption. This issue was fixed by moving the dput call to after the last access to prevent use-after-free conditions.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f77618291836168eca99e89cd175256f928f5e64 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4b49d939b5a79117f939b77cc67efae2694d9799 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a7c41830ffcd17b2177a95a9b99b270302090c35 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/64455c8051c3aedc71abb7ec8d47c80301f99f00 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3594aad97e7be2557ca9fa9c931b206b604028c8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/60b4b5c1277fc491da9e1e7abab307bfa39c2db7 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c84e125fff2615b4d9c259e762596134eddd2f27 (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/05/msg00045.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)