# 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.

- **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:** 11 May 2026
- **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

## 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 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-22097?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2025-22097?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## 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

- [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-2025-22097 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: 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.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-22097 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-2025-22097/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-22097/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-22097
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-22097
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-22097

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-22097/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.