CVE-2025-71079: Linux kernel · net: nfc: fix deadlock between nfc_unregister_device and rfkill_fop_write
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 5.15.0-1103.110~20.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 12:55 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 1% 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 +70
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 13 Jan 2026
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@6.17.0-22.22?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws@6.17.0-1012.12?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure@6.17.0-1013.13?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@6.17.0-1012.12?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle@6.17.0-1011.11?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.
AI-suggested
A patch is available and should be applied to affected linux-aws kernel versions. The fix restructures lock acquisition to prevent deadlock and use-after-free conditions. Users should update to patched kernel versions as specified in the vendor advisory. No additional mitigation steps are required beyond applying the official fix.
Description
A deadlock vulnerability was identified and fixed in the Linux kernel's NFC subsystem affecting the linux-aws kernel. The issue arises from a lock ordering inversion between device_lock and rfkill_global_mutex, causing a classic ABBA deadlock scenario between nfc_unregister_device() and rfkill_fop_write(). The fix involves restructuring the code to move rfkill_unregister() and rfkill_destroy() calls outside the device_lock critical section to prevent deadlock and use-after-free conditions.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-71079 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-71079 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/1ab526d97a57e44d26fadcc0e9adeb9c0c0182f5 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1ab526d97a57e44d26fadcc0e9adeb9c0c0182f5 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6b93c8ab6f6cda8818983a4ae3fcf84b023037b4 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8fc4632fb508432895430cd02b38086bdd649083 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ee41f4f3ccf8cd6ba3732e867abbec7e6d8d12e5 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f3a8a7c1aa278f2378b2f3a10500c6674dffdfda (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8096-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8096-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8096-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8096-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8116-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8096-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8141-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8163-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8163-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8177-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8179-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8177-2 (opens in a new tab)