CVE-2025-22094

Kernel panic via unreferenced PMU module unload

Published Apr 16, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel vpa_pmu PMU in 6.13 allows local users to crash a pSeries LPAR after an administrator unloads the module. vpa_pmu_event_init leaves the PMU owner unset, so an active perf event holds no module reference and later dereferences PMU state after unload. The flaw requires a PowerPC pSeries LPAR with Book3s-HV nested APIv2 counters, an accessible perf event, and a privileged module unload; the demonstrated consequence is a kernel panic.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.21%
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 vpa_pmu PMU in 6.13 allows local users to crash a pSeries LPAR after an administrator unloads the module. vpa_pmu_event_init leaves the PMU owner unset, so an active perf event holds no module reference and later dereferences PMU state after unload. The flaw requires a PowerPC pSeries LPAR with Book3s-HV nested APIv2 counters, an accessible perf event, and a privileged module unload; the demonstrated consequence is a kernel panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-22094
Published
Apr 16, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 16, 2025CVE 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=176cda0619b6c17a553625f6e2fcbc3981ad667d <6cf045b51e2c5721db7e55305f09ee32741e00f9
  2. Affected versionversion=176cda0619b6c17a553625f6e2fcbc3981ad667d <70ea7c5189197c6f5acdcfd8a2651be2c41e2faa
  3. Affected versionversion=176cda0619b6c17a553625f6e2fcbc3981ad667d <ff99d5b6a246715f2257123cdf6c4a29cb33aa78
  4. Affected versionversion=6.13

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=176cda0619b6c17a553625f6e2fcbc3981ad667d <6cf045b51e2c5721db7e55305f09ee32741e00f9; version=176cda0619b6c17a553625f6e2fcbc3981ad667d <70ea7c5189197c6f5acdcfd8a2651be2c41e2faa; version=176cda0619b6c17a553625f6e2fcbc3981ad667d <ff99d5b6a246715f2257123cdf6c4a29cb33aa78; version=6.13

Published CVSS scores

5.5UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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 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

T1499.004Endpoint Denial of Service: Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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