Kernel compromise via unlocked descriptor traversal
Published Feb 14, 2026 · Updated Feb 14, 2026
Race condition in the Linux kernel's mmp_pdma DMA driver allows local users to compromise the kernel through concurrent status queries. The mmp_pdma_residue() function traverses chain_running and reads descriptor contents without desc_lock while a tasklet can move and free the same descriptor. Exploitation requires concurrent transfers and status queries on the same affected DMA channel; the resulting use-after-free can crash the host or corrupt kernel memory.
Summary
What happened
Race condition in the Linux kernel's mmp_pdma DMA driver allows local users to compromise the kernel through concurrent status queries. The mmp_pdma_residue() function traverses chain_running and reads descriptor contents without desc_lock while a tasklet can move and free the same descriptor. Exploitation requires concurrent transfers and status queries on the same affected DMA channel; the resulting use-after-free can crash the host or corrupt kernel memory.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-71221
- Published
- Feb 14, 2026
- Updated
- Feb 14, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- CWE-362, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 14, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 14, 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?
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- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9f665b3c3d9a168410251f27a5d019b7bf93185c
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <a143545855bc2c6e1330f6f57ae375ac44af00a7
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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