Local kernel compromise via randomized callback mismatch
Published Oct 28, 2025 · Updated Oct 28, 2025
Memory corruption in Linux kernel 6.16 through 6.17.2 allows local users to read or write kernel memory or crash the system. With structure layout randomization enabled, crypto_acomp_streams assumes that scomp_alg alloc_ctx and free_ctx callbacks share its fixed order, so a transposed layout calls the wrong function and uses a garbage context pointer. The flaw requires a susceptible build whose compile-time randomization seed transposes the callbacks; unprivileged memory pressure can reach it through zswap.
Summary
What happened
Memory corruption in Linux kernel 6.16 through 6.17.2 allows local users to read or write kernel memory or crash the system. With structure layout randomization enabled, crypto_acomp_streams assumes that scomp_alg alloc_ctx and free_ctx callbacks share its fixed order, so a transposed layout calls the wrong function and uses a garbage context pointer. The flaw requires a susceptible build whose compile-time randomization seed transposes the callbacks; unprivileged memory pressure can reach it through zswap.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-40063
- Published
- Oct 28, 2025
- Updated
- Oct 28, 2025
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 28, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 28, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=42d9f6c774790d290c175e8775ce9f1366438098 <779d3b6f2d32c5f1da6163e959abe1e1ffe2945b
- Affected versionversion=42d9f6c774790d290c175e8775ce9f1366438098 <f75f66683ded09f7135aef2e763c245a07c8271a
- Affected versionversion=6.16
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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