# CVE-2025-22035: tracing: Fix use-after-free in print_graph_function_flags during tracer switching

> A use-after-free in the Linux kernel tracing subsystem allows attackers to potentially execute code or escalate privileges during tracer switching.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 16 Apr 2025
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** AZL-60945, BELL-CVE-2025-22035, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-22035, GHSA-jrxv-vv4v-jrrh, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2404-CVE-2025-22035, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-22035

## What is CVE-2025-22035?

CVE-2025-22035 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 16 Apr 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

tracing: Fix use-after-free in print_graph_function_flags during tracer switching

Kairui reported a UAF issue in print_graph_function_flags() during
ftrace stress testing [1]. This issue can be reproduced if puting a
'mdelay(10)' after 'mutex_unlock(&trace_types_lock)' in s_start(),
and executing the following script:

  $ echo function_graph > current_tracer
  $ cat trace > /dev/null &
  $ sleep 5  # Ensure the 'cat' reaches the 'mdelay(10)' point
  $ echo timerlat > current_tracer

The root cause lies in the two calls to print_graph_function_flags
within print_trace_line during each s_show():

  * One through 'iter->trace->print_line()';
  * Another through 'event->funcs->trace()', which is hidden in
    print_trace_fmt() before print_trace_line returns.

Tracer switching only updates the former, while the latter continues
to use the print_line function of the old tracer, which in the script
above is print_graph_function_flags.

Moreover, when switching from the 'function_graph' tracer to the
'timerlat' tracer, s_start only calls graph_trace_close of the
'function_graph' tracer to free 'iter->private', but does not set
it to NULL. This provides an opportunity for 'event->funcs->trace()'
to use an invalid 'iter->private'.

To fix this issue, set 'iter->private' to NULL immediately after
freeing it in graph_trace_close(), ensuring that an invalid pointer
is not passed to other tracers. Additionally, clean up the unnecessary
'iter->private = NULL' during each 'cat trace' when using wakeup and
irqsoff tracers.

 [1] https://lore.kernel.org/all/20231112150030.84609-1-ryncsn@gmail.com/

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-22035?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2025-22035?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2025-22035 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-22035 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2025-22035 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-22035 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 16 Apr 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-22035 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-22035/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-22035/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-22035
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-22035
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-22035

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-22035/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.