CVE-2025-40194: Linux kernel · cpufreq: intel_pstate: Fix object lifecycle issue in update_qos_request()
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · fixed in 5.15.0-1100.107~20.04.2 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · No CVSS score from NVD or the CNA
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 11% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1100.107~20.04.2, 5.15.0-1110.119~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1100.109~20.04.1 +67
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 12 Nov 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: 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 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux@6.17.0-14.14?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws@6.17.0-1007.7?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure@6.17.0-1008.8?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde@6.17.0-1017.17?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp@6.17.0-1007.7?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle@6.17.0-1007.7?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: cpufreq: intel_pstate: Fix object lifecycle issue in update_qos_request() The cpufreq_cpu_put() call in update_qos_request() takes place too early because the latter subsequently calls freq_qos_update_request() that indirectly accesses the policy object in question through the QoS request object passed to it. Fortunately, update_qos_request() is called under intel_pstate_driver_lock, so this issue does not matter for changing the intel_pstate operation mode, but it theoretically can cause a crash to occur on CPU device hot removal (which currently can only happen in virt, but it is formally supported nevertheless). Address this issue by modifying update_qos_request() to drop the reference to the policy later.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-40194 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-40194 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/69e5d50fcf4093fb3f9f41c4f931f12c2ca8c467 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0a58d3e77b22b087a57831c87cafd360e144a5bd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/15ac9579ebdaf22a37d7f60b3a8efc1029732ef9 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/57e4a6aadf12578b96a038373cffd54b3a58b092 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/69a18ff6c60e8e113420f15355fad862cb45d38e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/69e5d50fcf4093fb3f9f41c4f931f12c2ca8c467 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ad4e8f9bdbef11a19b7cb93e7f313bf59bdcc3b4 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ba63d4e9857a72a89e71a4eff9f2cc8c283e94c3 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/bc26564bcc659beb6d977cd6eb394041ec2f2851 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8029-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8030-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8033-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8033-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8033-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8034-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8033-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8029-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8033-5 (opens in a new tab)