CVE-2025-21968

Local kernel compromise via HDCP workqueue race

Published Apr 1, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Use-after-free in the AMD display component of the Linux kernel allows local users to compromise the kernel through an HDCP workqueue race. HDCP teardown destroys its workqueue while property_validate_dwork remains queued, allowing the delayed callback to access freed slab memory. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and an applicable AMD display HDCP lifecycle; no public exploit is reported.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.19%
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 AMD display component of the Linux kernel allows local users to compromise the kernel through an HDCP workqueue race. HDCP teardown destroys its workqueue while property_validate_dwork remains queued, allowing the delayed callback to access freed slab memory. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and an applicable AMD display HDCP lifecycle; no public exploit is reported.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-21968
Published
Apr 1, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 1, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=5.5
  2. Affected versionversion=da3fd7ac0bcf372cc57117bdfcd725cca7ef975a <06acfdef370ae018dad9592369e2d2fd9a40c09e
  3. Affected versionversion=da3fd7ac0bcf372cc57117bdfcd725cca7ef975a <1397715b011bcdc6ad91b17df7acaee301e89db5
  4. Affected versionversion=da3fd7ac0bcf372cc57117bdfcd725cca7ef975a <378b361e2e30e9729f9a7676f7926868d14f4326
  5. Affected versionversion=da3fd7ac0bcf372cc57117bdfcd725cca7ef975a <4964dbc4191ab436877a5e3ecd9c67a4e50b7c36
  6. Affected versionversion=da3fd7ac0bcf372cc57117bdfcd725cca7ef975a <93d701064e56788663d7c5918fbe5e060d5df587
  7. Affected versionversion=da3fd7ac0bcf372cc57117bdfcd725cca7ef975a <bac7b8b1a3f1a86eeec85835af106cbdc2b9d9f7
  8. Affected versionversion=da3fd7ac0bcf372cc57117bdfcd725cca7ef975a <e65e7bea220c3ce8c4c793b4ba35557f4994ab2b

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.5; version=da3fd7ac0bcf372cc57117bdfcd725cca7ef975a <06acfdef370ae018dad9592369e2d2fd9a40c09e; version=da3fd7ac0bcf372cc57117bdfcd725cca7ef975a <1397715b011bcdc6ad91b17df7acaee301e89db5; version=da3fd7ac0bcf372cc57117bdfcd725cca7ef975a <378b361e2e30e9729f9a7676f7926868d14f4326; version=da3fd7ac0bcf372cc57117bdfcd725cca7ef975a <4964dbc4191ab436877a5e3ecd9c67a4e50b7c36; version=da3fd7ac0bcf372cc57117bdfcd725cca7ef975a <93d701064e56788663d7c5918fbe5e060d5df587; version=da3fd7ac0bcf372cc57117bdfcd725cca7ef975a <bac7b8b1a3f1a86eeec85835af106cbdc2b9d9f7; version=da3fd7ac0bcf372cc57117bdfcd725cca7ef975a <e65e7bea220c3ce8c4c793b4ba35557f4994ab2b

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISA-ADPCVSS: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.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 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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