# CVE-2025-22126: md: fix mddev uaf while iterating all_mddevs list

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's md driver allows local attackers to potentially execute code or escalate privileges via a race condition.

- **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:** BELL-CVE-2025-22126, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-22126, GHSA-mg7c-mfqw-jg72, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2404-CVE-2025-22126, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-22126

## What is CVE-2025-22126?

CVE-2025-22126 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:

md: fix mddev uaf while iterating all_mddevs list

While iterating all_mddevs list from md_notify_reboot() and md_exit(),
list_for_each_entry_safe is used, and this can race with deletint the
next mddev, causing UAF:

t1:
spin_lock
//list_for_each_entry_safe(mddev, n, ...)
 mddev_get(mddev1)
 // assume mddev2 is the next entry
 spin_unlock
            t2:
            //remove mddev2
            ...
            mddev_free
            spin_lock
            list_del
            spin_unlock
            kfree(mddev2)
 mddev_put(mddev1)
 spin_lock
 //continue dereference mddev2->all_mddevs

The old helper for_each_mddev() actually grab the reference of mddev2
while holding the lock, to prevent from being freed. This problem can be
fixed the same way, however, the code will be complex.

Hence switch to use list_for_each_entry, in this case mddev_put() can free
the mddev1 and it's not safe as well. Refer to md_seq_show(), also factor
out a helper mddev_put_locked() to fix this problem.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-22126?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2025-22126?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2025-22126 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-22126 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-2025-22126 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-22126 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-2025-22126 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-2025-22126/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-22126/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-22126
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-22126
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-22126

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-22126/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.