CVE-2025-68372

CVE-2025-68372 is a security vulnerability that is still awaiting full analysis and scoring. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.

Key facts

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nbd: defer config put in recv_work There is one uaf issue in recv_work when running NBD_CLEAR_SOCK and NBD_CMD_RECONFIGURE: nbd_genl_connect // conf_ref=2 (connect and recv_work A) nbd_open // conf_ref=3 recv_work A done // conf_ref=2 NBD_CLEAR_SOCK // conf_ref=1 nbd_genl_reconfigure // conf_ref=2 (trigger recv_work B) close nbd // conf_ref=1 recv_work B config_put // conf_ref=0 atomic_dec(&config->recv_threads); -> UAF Or only running NBD_CLEAR_SOCK: nbd_genl_connect // conf_ref=2 nbd_open // conf_ref=3 NBD_CLEAR_SOCK // conf_ref=2 close nbd nbd_release config_put // conf_ref=1 recv_work config_put // conf_ref=0 atomic_dec(&config->recv_threads); -> UAF Commit 87aac3a80af5 ("nbd: call nbd_config_put() before notifying the waiter") moved nbd_config_put() to run before waking up the waiter in recv_work, in order to ensure that nbd_start_device_ioctl() would not be woken up while nbd->task_recv was still uncleared. However, in nbd_start_device_ioctl(), after being woken up it explicitly calls flush_workqueue() to make sure all current works are finished. Therefore, there is no need to move the config put ahead of the wakeup. Move nbd_config_put() to the end of recv_work, so that the reference is held for the whole lifetime of the worker thread. This makes sure the config cannot be freed while recv_work is still running, even if clear + reconfigure interleave. In addition, we don't need to worry about recv_work dropping the last nbd_put (which causes deadlock): path A (netlink with NBD_CFLAG_DESTROY_ON_DISCONNECT): connect // nbd_refs=1 (trigger recv_work) open nbd // nbd_refs=2 NBD_CLEAR_SOCK close nbd nbd_release nbd_disconnect_and_put flush_workqueue // recv_work done nbd_config_put nbd_put // nbd_refs=1 nbd_put // nbd_refs=0 queue_work path B (netlink without NBD_CFLAG_DESTROY_ON_DISCONNECT): connect // nbd_refs=2 (trigger recv_work) open nbd // nbd_refs=3 NBD_CLEAR_SOCK // conf_refs=2 close nbd nbd_release nbd_config_put // conf_refs=1 nbd_put // nbd_refs=2 recv_work done // conf_refs=0, nbd_refs=1 rmmod // nbd_refs=0 Depends-on: e2daec488c57 ("nbd: Fix hungtask when nbd_config_put")

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2025-68372?
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nbd: defer config put in recv_work There is one uaf issue in recv_work when running NBD_CLEAR_SOCK and NBD_CMD_RECONFIGURE: nbd_genl_connect // conf_ref=2 (connect and recv_work A) nbd_open // conf_ref=3 recv_work A done // conf_ref=2 NBD_CLEAR_SOCK // conf_ref=1 nbd_genl_reconfigure // conf_ref=2 (trigger recv_work B) close nbd // conf_ref=1 recv_work B config_put // conf_ref=0 atomic_dec(&config->recv_threads); -> UAF Or only running NBD_CLEAR_SOCK: nbd_genl_connect // conf_ref=2 nbd_open // conf_ref=3 NBD_CLEAR_SOCK // conf_ref=2 close nbd nbd_release config_put // conf_ref=1 recv_work config_put // conf_ref=0 atomic_dec(&config->recv_threads); -> UAF Commit 87aac3a80af5 ("nbd: call nbd_config_put() before notifying the waiter") moved nbd_config_put() to run before waking up the waiter in recv_work, in order to ensure that nbd_start_device_ioctl() would not be woken up while nbd->task_recv was still uncleared. However, in nbd_start_device_ioctl(), after being woken up it explicitly calls flush_workqueue() to make sure all current works are finished. Therefore, there is no need to move the config put ahead of the wakeup. Move nbd_config_put() to the end of recv_work, so that the reference is held for the whole lifetime of the worker thread. This makes sure the config cannot be freed while recv_work is still running, even if clear + reconfigure interleave. In addition, we don't need to worry about recv_work dropping the last nbd_put (which causes deadlock): path A (netlink with NBD_CFLAG_DESTROY_ON_DISCONNECT): connect // nbd_refs=1 (trigger recv_work) open nbd // nbd_refs=2 NBD_CLEAR_SOCK close nbd nbd_release nbd_disconnect_and_put flush_workqueue // recv_work done nbd_config_put nbd_put // nbd_refs=1 nbd_put // nbd_refs=0 queue_work path B (netlink without NBD_CFLAG_DESTROY_ON_DISCONNECT): connect // nbd_refs=2 (trigger recv_work) open nbd // nbd_refs=3 NBD_CLEAR_SOCK // conf_refs=2 close nbd nbd_release nbd_config_put // conf_refs=1 nbd_put // nbd_refs=2 recv_work done // conf_refs=0, nbd_refs=1 rmmod // nbd_refs=0 Depends-on: e2daec488c57 ("nbd: Fix hungtask when nbd_config_put")
Is CVE-2025-68372 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (6th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
How do I fix CVE-2025-68372?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
Does CVE-2025-68372 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
Yes. CVE-2025-68372 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2025-205082.
When was CVE-2025-68372 published?
CVE-2025-68372 was published on 2025-12-24 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References