Kernel crash via blk-throttle activation race
Published Nov 12, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026
NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel 6.10 allows attackers to crash the kernel when block throttling races cold-boot initialization. blk_throtl_activated() treats a non-NULL q->td as sufficient before the queue policy bit and throttle-group data are attached, so blk_should_throtl() dereferences a NULL group. The observed gate is repeated cold boot with throttling consulted during early queue setup; published evidence demonstrates no attacker control beyond a system crash.
Summary
What happened
NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel 6.10 allows attackers to crash the kernel when block throttling races cold-boot initialization. blk_throtl_activated() treats a non-NULL q->td as sufficient before the queue policy bit and throttle-group data are attached, so blk_should_throtl() dereferences a NULL group. The observed gate is repeated cold boot with throttling consulted during early queue setup; published evidence demonstrates no attacker control beyond a system crash.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-40147
- Published
- Nov 12, 2025
- Updated
- May 11, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- Unavailable
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Nov 12, 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=6.10
- Affected versionversion=a3166c51702bb00b8f8b84022090cbab8f37be1a <6a0c394300a7b0c05504596685de8a46707171fc
- Affected versionversion=a3166c51702bb00b8f8b84022090cbab8f37be1a <7b4bfd02c934dbbb18814ed012ecb90b58db6935
- Affected versionversion=a3166c51702bb00b8f8b84022090cbab8f37be1a <bd9fd5be6bc0836820500f68fff144609fbd85a9
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
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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