CVE-2025-22097 drm/vkms: Fix use after free and double free on init error
A use-after-free and double-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's VKMS driver during initialization errors can lead to system crashes or potential code execution.
- 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
What is CVE-2025-22097?
CVE-2025-22097 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:
drm/vkms: Fix use after free and double free on init error
If the driver initialization fails, the vkms_exit() function might access an uninitialized or freed default_config pointer and it might double free it.
Fix both possible errors by initializing default_config only when the driver initialization succeeded.
Weakness: CWE-416
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-22097?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2025-22097?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2025-22097 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-22097 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as AZL-60982, BELL-CVE-2025-22097, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-22097, GHSA-5g5j-4w29-mr24, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2404-CVE-2025-22097, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-22097.