CVE-2019-25162

Kernel memory corruption via premature adapter release

Published Feb 26, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel I2C core allows local users to access a released adapter during teardown through affected builds. The i2c_put_adapter function calls put_device before module_put, so releasing the device can free the adapter before its owner field is read. A local low-privileged user must reach an I2C adapter release path; public sources document no reproducible exploit or specific resulting control.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.38%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel I2C core allows local users to access a released adapter during teardown through affected builds. The i2c_put_adapter function calls put_device before module_put, so releasing the device can free the adapter before its owner field is read. A local low-privileged user must reach an I2C adapter release path; public sources document no reproducible exploit or specific resulting control.

The record

CVE
CVE-2019-25162
Published
Feb 26, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 26, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=4.3
  2. Affected versionversion=611e12ea0f121a31d9e9c4ce2a18a77abc2f28d6 <12b0606000d0828630c033bf0c74c748464fe87d
  3. Affected versionversion=611e12ea0f121a31d9e9c4ce2a18a77abc2f28d6 <23a191b132cd87f746c62f3dc27da33683d85829
  4. Affected versionversion=611e12ea0f121a31d9e9c4ce2a18a77abc2f28d6 <35927d7509ab9bf41896b7e44f639504eae08af7
  5. Affected versionversion=611e12ea0f121a31d9e9c4ce2a18a77abc2f28d6 <81cb31756888bb062e92d2dca21cd629d77a46a9
  6. Affected versionversion=611e12ea0f121a31d9e9c4ce2a18a77abc2f28d6 <871a1e94929a27bf6e2cd99523865c840bbc2d87
  7. Affected versionversion=611e12ea0f121a31d9e9c4ce2a18a77abc2f28d6 <e4c72c06c367758a14f227c847f9d623f1994ecf
  8. Affected versionversion=611e12ea0f121a31d9e9c4ce2a18a77abc2f28d6 <e6412ba3b6508bdf9c074d310bf4144afa6aec1a
  9. Affected versionversion=611e12ea0f121a31d9e9c4ce2a18a77abc2f28d6 <e8e1a046cf87c8b1363e5de835114f2779e2aaf4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.3; version=611e12ea0f121a31d9e9c4ce2a18a77abc2f28d6 <12b0606000d0828630c033bf0c74c748464fe87d; version=611e12ea0f121a31d9e9c4ce2a18a77abc2f28d6 <23a191b132cd87f746c62f3dc27da33683d85829; version=611e12ea0f121a31d9e9c4ce2a18a77abc2f28d6 <35927d7509ab9bf41896b7e44f639504eae08af7; version=611e12ea0f121a31d9e9c4ce2a18a77abc2f28d6 <81cb31756888bb062e92d2dca21cd629d77a46a9; version=611e12ea0f121a31d9e9c4ce2a18a77abc2f28d6 <871a1e94929a27bf6e2cd99523865c840bbc2d87; version=611e12ea0f121a31d9e9c4ce2a18a77abc2f28d6 <e4c72c06c367758a14f227c847f9d623f1994ecf; version=611e12ea0f121a31d9e9c4ce2a18a77abc2f28d6 <e6412ba3b6508bdf9c074d310bf4144afa6aec1a; version=611e12ea0f121a31d9e9c4ce2a18a77abc2f28d6 <e8e1a046cf87c8b1363e5de835114f2779e2aaf4

Published CVSS scores

7.8kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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