CVE-2025-40201

Local kernel compromise via sys_prlimit64 task race

Published Nov 12, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in sys_prlimit64() in Linux allows local users to disclose or corrupt kernel memory through a process race. do_prlimit() locks tsk->group_leader without stabilizing that pointer, so concurrent exec or exit can change it or free the referenced task_struct between lock and unlock. An unprivileged local user can race prlimit64() against an owned nonleader thread's exec or exit, enabling kernel memory corruption, disclosure, deadlock, or panic.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.14%
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 sys_prlimit64() in Linux allows local users to disclose or corrupt kernel memory through a process race. do_prlimit() locks tsk->group_leader without stabilizing that pointer, so concurrent exec or exit can change it or free the referenced task_struct between lock and unlock. An unprivileged local user can race prlimit64() against an owned nonleader thread's exec or exit, enabling kernel memory corruption, disclosure, deadlock, or panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-40201
Published
Nov 12, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 12, 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=18c91bb2d87268d23868bf13508f5bc9cf04e89a <132f827e7bac7373e1522e89709d70b43cae5342
  2. Affected versionversion=18c91bb2d87268d23868bf13508f5bc9cf04e89a <19b45c84bd9fd42fa97ff80c6350d604cb871c75
  3. Affected versionversion=18c91bb2d87268d23868bf13508f5bc9cf04e89a <1bc0d9315ef5296abb2c9fd840336255850ded18
  4. Affected versionversion=18c91bb2d87268d23868bf13508f5bc9cf04e89a <6796412decd2d8de8ec708213bbc958fab72f143
  5. Affected versionversion=18c91bb2d87268d23868bf13508f5bc9cf04e89a <a15f37a40145c986cdf289a4b88390f35efdecc4
  6. Affected versionversion=5.18

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=18c91bb2d87268d23868bf13508f5bc9cf04e89a <132f827e7bac7373e1522e89709d70b43cae5342; version=18c91bb2d87268d23868bf13508f5bc9cf04e89a <19b45c84bd9fd42fa97ff80c6350d604cb871c75; version=18c91bb2d87268d23868bf13508f5bc9cf04e89a <1bc0d9315ef5296abb2c9fd840336255850ded18; version=18c91bb2d87268d23868bf13508f5bc9cf04e89a <6796412decd2d8de8ec708213bbc958fab72f143; version=18c91bb2d87268d23868bf13508f5bc9cf04e89a <a15f37a40145c986cdf289a4b88390f35efdecc4; version=5.18

Published CVSS scores

7.8LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.0Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/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

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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