Use-after-free via duplicate PSP unregistration
Published Jan 13, 2026 · Updated Jan 13, 2026
Use-after-free in Linux Kernel 6.18 through 6.18.2 allows local users with administrative capabilities to misuse memory during mlx5 removal. The _mlx5e_remove path calls mlx5e_psp_unregister directly, then mlx5e_nic_cleanup invokes it again during profile cleanup, underflowing the PSP reference count. Reaching device removal requires CAP_NET_ADMIN in the initial network namespace or CAP_SYS_MODULE and mlx5 hardware; published evidence demonstrates a kernel warning and use-after-free but no further impact.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in Linux Kernel 6.18 through 6.18.2 allows local users with administrative capabilities to misuse memory during mlx5 removal. The _mlx5e_remove path calls mlx5e_psp_unregister directly, then mlx5e_nic_cleanup invokes it again during profile cleanup, underflowing the PSP reference count. Reaching device removal requires CAP_NET_ADMIN in the initial network namespace or CAP_SYS_MODULE and mlx5 hardware; published evidence demonstrates a kernel warning and use-after-free but no further impact.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-68779
- Published
- Jan 13, 2026
- Updated
- Jan 13, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 13, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jan 13, 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=6.18
- Affected versionversion=89ee2d92f66c45625ff1c173df2dbdea32568c5d <35e93736f69963337912594eb3951ab320b77521
- Affected versionversion=89ee2d92f66c45625ff1c173df2dbdea32568c5d <e12c912f92ccea671b514caf371f28485714bb4b
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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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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