CVE-2025-40272: Linux kernel · mm/secretmem: fix use-after-free race in fault handler
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 5.15.0-1103.110~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 3% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1103.110~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1110.119~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1103.112~20.04.1 +69
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 6 Dec 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?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle?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: mm/secretmem: fix use-after-free race in fault handler When a page fault occurs in a secret memory file created with `memfd_secret(2)`, the kernel will allocate a new folio for it, mark the underlying page as not-present in the direct map, and add it to the file mapping. If two tasks cause a fault in the same page concurrently, both could end up allocating a folio and removing the page from the direct map, but only one would succeed in adding the folio to the file mapping. The task that failed undoes the effects of its attempt by (a) freeing the folio again and (b) putting the page back into the direct map. However, by doing these two operations in this order, the page becomes available to the allocator again before it is placed back in the direct mapping. If another task attempts to allocate the page between (a) and (b), and the kernel tries to access it via the direct map, it would result in a supervisor not-present page fault. Fix the ordering to restore the direct map before the folio is freed.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-40272 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-40272 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/6f86d0534fddfbd08687fa0f01479d4226bc3c3d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1e4643d6628edf9c0047b1f8f5bc574665025acb (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/42d486d35a4143cc37fc72ee66edc99d942dd367 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4444767e625da46009fc94a453fd1967b80ba047 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/52f2d5cf33de9a8f5e72bbb0ed38282ae0bc4649 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6f86d0534fddfbd08687fa0f01479d4226bc3c3d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/bb1c19636aedae39360e6fdbcaef4f2bcff25785 (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-8029-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8048-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8029-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8095-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8096-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8100-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8095-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8096-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8095-3 (opens in a new tab)