CVE-2025-71066Public exploit

Kernel code execution via ETS scheduler race

Published Jan 13, 2026 · Updated Jan 13, 2026

Use-after-free in the ETS scheduler in Linux Kernel allows local users to execute arbitrary code in the kernel context. ets_qdisc_change unlocks the scheduler before releasing removed classes' Qdisc references, leaving active-list entries that ets_qdisc_dequeue can dereference after free. Triggering the race requires capabilities to create user and network namespaces and to reconfigure an ETS qdisc while dequeue activity occurs.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.17%
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 ETS scheduler in Linux Kernel allows local users to execute arbitrary code in the kernel context. ets_qdisc_change unlocks the scheduler before releasing removed classes' Qdisc references, leaving active-list entries that ets_qdisc_dequeue can dereference after free. Triggering the race requires capabilities to create user and network namespaces and to reconfigure an ETS qdisc while dequeue activity occurs.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-71066
Published
Jan 13, 2026
Updated
Jan 13, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-362, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 13, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 13, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=5.16
  2. Affected versionversion=ae2659d2c670252759ee9c823c4e039c0e05a6f2
  3. Affected versionversion=de6d25924c2a8c2988c6a385990cafbe742061bf <06bfb66a7c8b45e3fed01351a4b087410ae5ef39
  4. Affected versionversion=de6d25924c2a8c2988c6a385990cafbe742061bf <45466141da3c98a0c5fa88be0bc14b4b6a4bd75c
  5. Affected versionversion=de6d25924c2a8c2988c6a385990cafbe742061bf <9987cda315c08f63a02423fa2f9a1f6602c861a0
  6. Affected versionversion=de6d25924c2a8c2988c6a385990cafbe742061bf <a75d617a4ef08682f5cfaadc01d5141c87e019c9
  7. Affected versionversion=de6d25924c2a8c2988c6a385990cafbe742061bf <ce052b9402e461a9aded599f5b47e76bc727f7de
  8. Affected versionversion=e25bdbc7e951ae5728fee1f4c09485df113d013c

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=5.16; version=ae2659d2c670252759ee9c823c4e039c0e05a6f2; version=de6d25924c2a8c2988c6a385990cafbe742061bf <06bfb66a7c8b45e3fed01351a4b087410ae5ef39; version=de6d25924c2a8c2988c6a385990cafbe742061bf <45466141da3c98a0c5fa88be0bc14b4b6a4bd75c; version=de6d25924c2a8c2988c6a385990cafbe742061bf <9987cda315c08f63a02423fa2f9a1f6602c861a0; version=de6d25924c2a8c2988c6a385990cafbe742061bf <a75d617a4ef08682f5cfaadc01d5141c87e019c9; version=de6d25924c2a8c2988c6a385990cafbe742061bf <ce052b9402e461a9aded599f5b47e76bc727f7de; version=e25bdbc7e951ae5728fee1f4c09485df113d013c

Published CVSS scores

7.8kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5CanonicalCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/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 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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-362Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

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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