CVE-2025-22097 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel's drm/vkms (Virtual Kernel Mode Setting) driver component. The flaw arises from improper handling of memory during driver initialization failure scenarios. Specifically, if the vkms driver initialization fails, the cleanup function vkms_exit() may access a pointer named default_config that is either uninitialized or already freed. This leads to a use-after-free and double-free condition. Such memory management errors can cause kernel crashes, memory corruption, or potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. The root cause is that default_config is only initialized when the driver initialization succeeds, but vkms_exit() does not verify this before accessing or freeing it. The fix involves ensuring default_config is initialized only upon successful initialization and preventing vkms_exit() from accessing or freeing it otherwise. The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-416 (Use After Free). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity, requiring low privileges but no user interaction. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The affected Linux kernel versions are identified by specific commit hashes, indicating this is a recent and targeted fix in the kernel source code. This vulnerability could be exploited locally by an attacker with some privileges on a system running the vulnerable Linux kernel, potentially leading to privilege escalation or denial of service.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk especially for those relying on Linux-based infrastructure, including servers, cloud environments, and embedded systems using the vkms driver. Successful exploitation could lead to full kernel compromise, allowing attackers to gain root privileges, manipulate sensitive data, disrupt services, or establish persistent footholds. Critical sectors such as finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and government entities that depend on Linux servers for critical operations could face data breaches, operational downtime, or regulatory non-compliance. The vulnerability's local attack vector means insider threats or compromised user accounts could leverage this flaw to escalate privileges. Additionally, virtualized environments or container platforms running Linux kernels with vkms support might be at risk, affecting cloud service providers and their customers across Europe. Although no public exploits are known yet, the high severity and kernel-level impact warrant immediate attention to prevent potential targeted attacks or exploitation by advanced threat actors.

European organizations should prioritize patching affected Linux kernel versions as soon as vendor updates become available. Since the vulnerability involves kernel memory management, applying the official kernel patches or upgrading to a fixed kernel version is the most effective mitigation. In environments where immediate patching is challenging, organizations should restrict local access to trusted users only, enforce strict privilege separation, and monitor for unusual kernel crashes or suspicious activity indicative of exploitation attempts. Employing kernel hardening techniques such as Kernel Address Space Layout Randomization (KASLR), Kernel Page Table Isolation (KPTI), and enabling security modules like SELinux or AppArmor can reduce exploitation likelihood. Regularly auditing and limiting the use of the vkms driver where not necessary can also reduce the attack surface. For cloud and virtualized environments, ensure hypervisor and container runtimes are updated and consider isolating workloads that require vkms functionality. Finally, maintain robust logging and alerting to detect potential exploitation attempts early.