System instability via module-unload race
Published Apr 1, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026
Race condition in the Linux GPIO Aggregator allows local users to destabilize the system through concurrent module unloads. The new_device_store and delete_device_store handlers access module-global resources without holding a module reference, allowing an allocated ID to outlive failed device registration and leave a dangling platform device or GPIO forwarder. Reachability requires root-level sysfs access and module-unload capability; successful triggering produces kernel corruption warnings and system instability.
Summary
What happened
Race condition in the Linux GPIO Aggregator allows local users to destabilize the system through concurrent module unloads. The new_device_store and delete_device_store handlers access module-global resources without holding a module reference, allowing an allocated ID to outlive failed device registration and leave a dangling platform device or GPIO forwarder. Reachability requires root-level sysfs access and module-unload capability; successful triggering produces kernel corruption warnings and system instability.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-21943
- Published
- Apr 1, 2025
- Updated
- May 11, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-362, T1499.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 1, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 11, 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.
- Affected versionversion=5.8
- Affected versionversion=828546e24280f721350a7a0dcc92416e917b4382 <12f65d1203507f7db3ba59930fe29a3b8eee9945
- Affected versionversion=828546e24280f721350a7a0dcc92416e917b4382 <56281a76b805b5ac61feb5d580139695a22f87f0
- Affected versionversion=828546e24280f721350a7a0dcc92416e917b4382 <807789018186cf508ceb3a1f8f02935cd195717b
- Affected versionversion=828546e24280f721350a7a0dcc92416e917b4382 <8fb07fb1bba91d45846ed8605c3097fe67a7d54c
- Affected versionversion=828546e24280f721350a7a0dcc92416e917b4382 <9334c88fc2fbc6836b307d269fcc1744c69701c0
- Affected versionversion=828546e24280f721350a7a0dcc92416e917b4382 <d99dc8f7ea01ee1b21306e0eda8eb18a4af80db6
- Affected versionversion=828546e24280f721350a7a0dcc92416e917b4382 <fd6aa1f8cbe0979eb66ac32ebc231bf0b10a2117
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Linux GPIO Aggregator module-unload race reproducerproof of concept · demonstrated
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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