#VU107663 Use-after-free in Linux kernel - CVE-2025-22121

Vulnerability identifier: #VU107663

Vulnerability risk: Low

CVSSv4.0: 5.9 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Clear]

CVE-ID: CVE-2025-22121

CWE-ID: CWE-416

Exploitation vector: Local

Exploit availability: No

Vulnerable software:
Linux kernel
Operating systems & Components / Operating system

Vendor: Linux Foundation

Description

The vulnerability allows a local user to escalate privileges on the system.

The vulnerability exists due to a use-after-free error within the __ext4_xattr_check_block(), __xattr_check_inode(), ext4_xattr_ibody_get(), ext4_xattr_ibody_list(), ext4_get_inode_usage(), ext4_xattr_ibody_find() and sizeof() functions in fs/ext4/xattr.c, within the ext4_iget_extra_inode() function in fs/ext4/inode.c. A local user can escalate privileges on the system.

Mitigation
Install update from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

Linux kernel: 6.14, 6.14.1

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External links
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0c8fbb6ffb3c8f5164572ca88e4ccb6cd6a41ca8
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5701875f9609b000d91351eaa6bfd97fe2f157f4
https://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v6.x/ChangeLog-6.14.2

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

No. This vulnerability can be exploited locally. The attacker should have authentication credentials and successfully authenticate on the system.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.