CVE-2025-39871

dmaengine: idxd: Remove improper idxd_free

Published Sep 23, 2025 CVSS 3.1 · 7.8 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

dmaengine: idxd: Remove improper idxd_free

The call to idxd_free() introduces a duplicate put_device() leading to a
reference count underflow:
refcount_t: underflow; use-after-free.
WARNING: CPU: 15 PID: 4428 at lib/refcount.c:28 refcount_warn_saturate+0xbe/0x110
...
Call Trace:
<TASK>
idxd_remove+0xe4/0x120 [idxd]
pci_device_remove+0x3f/0xb0
device_release_driver_internal+0x197/0x200
driver_detach+0x48/0x90
bus_remove_driver+0x74/0xf0
pci_unregister_driver+0x2e/0xb0
idxd_exit_module+0x34/0x7a0 [idxd]
__do_sys_delete_module.constprop.0+0x183/0x280
do_syscall_64+0x54/0xd70
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e

The idxd_unregister_devices() which is invoked at the very beginning of
idxd_remove(), already takes care of the necessary put_device() through the
following call path:
idxd_unregister_devices() -> device_unregister() -> put_device()

In addition, when CONFIG_DEBUG_KOBJECT_RELEASE is enabled, put_device() may
trigger asynchronous cleanup via schedule_delayed_work(). If idxd_free() is
called immediately after, it can result in a use-after-free.

Remove the improper idxd_free() to avoid both the refcount underflow and
potential memory corruption during module unload.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4476-1 linux-6.1 security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6127-1 linux security update
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2025-30862 In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: dmaengine: idxd: Remove improper idxd_free The call to idxd_free() introduces a duplicate put_device() leading to a reference count underflow: refcount_t: underflow; use-after-free. WARNING: CPU: 15 PID: 4428 at lib/refcount.c:28 refcount_warn_saturate+0xbe/0x110 ... Call Trace: <TASK> idxd_remove+0xe4/0x120 [idxd] pci_device_remove+0x3f/0xb0 device_release_driver_internal+0x197/0x200 driver_detach+0x48/0x90 bus_remove_driver+0x74/0xf0 pci_unregister_driver+0x2e/0xb0 idxd_exit_module+0x34/0x7a0 [idxd] __do_sys_delete_module.constprop.0+0x183/0x280 do_syscall_64+0x54/0xd70 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e The idxd_unregister_devices() which is invoked at the very beginning of idxd_remove(), already takes care of the necessary put_device() through the following call path: idxd_unregister_devices() -> device_unregister() -> put_device() In addition, when CONFIG_DEBUG_KOBJECT_RELEASE is enabled, put_device() may trigger asynchronous cleanup via schedule_delayed_work(). If idxd_free() is called immediately after, it can result in a use-after-free. Remove the improper idxd_free() to avoid both the refcount underflow and potential memory corruption during module unload.
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8095-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8095-2 Linux kernel (FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8100-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8095-3 Linux kernel (Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8095-4 Linux kernel (AWS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8125-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8126-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8095-5 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8165-1 Linux kernel (Azure FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8261-1 Linux kernel (Xilinx) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-416
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.15:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.17:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.17:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.17:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.17:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.17:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: dmaengine: idxd: Remove improper idxd_free The call to idxd_free() introduces a duplicate put_device() leading to a reference count underflow: refcount_t: underflow; use-after-free. WARNING: CPU: 15 PID: 4428 at lib/refcount.c:28 refcount_warn_saturate+0xbe/0x110 ... Call Trace: <TASK> idxd_remove+0xe4/0x120 [idxd] pci_device_remove+0x3f/0xb0 device_release_driver_internal+0x197/0x200 driver_detach+0x48/0x90 bus_remove_driver+0x74/0xf0 pci_unregister_driver+0x2e/0xb0 idxd_exit_module+0x34/0x7a0 [idxd] __do_sys_delete_module.constprop.0+0x183/0x280 do_syscall_64+0x54/0xd70 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e The idxd_unregister_devices() which is invoked at the very beginning of idxd_remove(), already takes care of the necessary put_device() through the following call path: idxd_unregister_devices() -> device_unregister() -> put_device() In addition, when CONFIG_DEBUG_KOBJECT_RELEASE is enabled, put_device() may trigger asynchronous cleanup via schedule_delayed_work(). If idxd_free() is called immediately after, it can result in a use-after-free. Remove the improper idxd_free() to avoid both the refcount underflow and potential memory corruption during module unload.
Title dmaengine: idxd: Remove improper idxd_free
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Nov 10, 2026, 12:37 PM
Reserved
Apr 16, 2025, 7:20 AM
Status
Modified
Published
Sep 23, 2025, 6:15 AM
Modified
Nov 10, 2026, 1:17 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Sep 23, 2025, 12:00 AM