CVE-2025-40201
Full vulnerability record from the local CVENow database.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: kernel/sys.c: fix the racy usage of task_lock(tsk->group_leader) in sys_prlimit64() paths The usage of task_lock(tsk->group_leader) in sys_prlimit64()->do_prlimit() path is very broken. sys_prlimit64() does get_task_struct(tsk) but this only protects task_struct itself. If tsk != current and tsk is not a leader, this process can exit/exec and task_lock(tsk->group_leader) may use the already freed task_struct. Another problem is that sys_prlimit64() can race with mt-exec which changes ->group_leader. In this case do_prlimit() may take the wrong lock, or (worse) ->group_leader may change between task_lock() and task_unlock(). Change sys_prlimit64() to take tasklist_lock when necessary. This is not nice, but I don't see a better fix for -stable.
View original CVE JSON
{
"id": "CVE-2025-40201",
"sourceIdentifier": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
"published": "2025-11-12T22:15:47.283",
"lastModified": "2026-10-19T21:10:00.160",
"vulnStatus": "Deferred",
"cveTags": [],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nkernel/sys.c: fix the racy usage of task_lock(tsk->group_leader) in sys_prlimit64() paths\n\nThe usage of task_lock(tsk->group_leader) in sys_prlimit64()->do_prlimit()\npath is very broken.\n\nsys_prlimit64() does get_task_struct(tsk) but this only protects task_struct\nitself. If tsk != current and tsk is not a leader, this process can exit/exec\nand task_lock(tsk->group_leader) may use the already freed task_struct.\n\nAnother problem is that sys_prlimit64() can race with mt-exec which changes\n->group_leader. In this case do_prlimit() may take the wrong lock, or (worse)\n->group_leader may change between task_lock() and task_unlock().\n\nChange sys_prlimit64() to take tasklist_lock when necessary. This is not\nnice, but I don't see a better fix for -stable."
},
{
"lang": "es",
"value": "En el kernel de Linux, la siguiente vulnerabilidad ha sido resuelta:\n\nkernel/sys.c: corregir el uso propenso a condiciones de carrera de task_lock(tsk->group_leader) en las rutas de sys_prlimit64()\n\nEl uso de task_lock(tsk->group_leader) en la ruta sys_prlimit64()->do_prlimit() está muy defectuoso.\n\nsys_prlimit64() realiza get_task_struct(tsk) pero esto solo protege la propia task_struct. Si tsk != current y tsk no es un líder, este proceso puede salir/ejecutar y task_lock(tsk->group_leader) puede usar la task_struct ya liberada.\n\nOtro problema es que sys_prlimit64() puede entrar en condición de carrera con mt-exec, que cambia ->group_leader. En este caso, do_prlimit() puede tomar el bloqueo incorrecto, o (peor aún) ->group_leader puede cambiar entre task_lock() y task_unlock().\n\nModificar sys_prlimit64() para tomar tasklist_lock cuando sea necesario. Esto no es ideal, pero no veo una mejor solución para -stable."
}
],
"affected": [
{
"source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
"affectedData": [
{
"vendor": "Linux",
"product": "Linux",
"defaultStatus": "unaffected",
"programFiles": [
"kernel/sys.c"
],
"repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
"versions": [
{
"version": "18c91bb2d87268d23868bf13508f5bc9cf04e89a",
"lessThan": "1bc0d9315ef5296abb2c9fd840336255850ded18",
"versionType": "git",
"status": "affected"
},
{
"version": "18c91bb2d87268d23868bf13508f5bc9cf04e89a",
"lessThan": "132f827e7bac7373e1522e89709d70b43cae5342",
"versionType": "git",
"status": "affected"
},
{
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"lessThan": "19b45c84bd9fd42fa97ff80c6350d604cb871c75",
"versionType": "git",
"status": "affected"
},
{
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"versionType": "git",
"status": "affected"
},
{
"version": "18c91bb2d87268d23868bf13508f5bc9cf04e89a",
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"versionType": "git",
"status": "affected"
}
]
},
{
"vendor": "Linux",
"product": "Linux",
"defaultStatus": "affected",
"programFiles": [
"kernel/sys.c"
],
"repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
"versions": [
{
"version": "5.18",
"status": "affected"
},
{
"version": "0",
"lessThan": "5.18",
"versionType": "semver",
"status": "unaffected"
},
{
"version": "6.1.157",
"lessThanOrEqual": "6.1.*",
"versionType": "semver",
"status": "unaffected"
},
{
"version": "6.6.113",
"lessThanOrEqual": "6.6.*",
"versionType": "semver",
"status": "unaffected"
},
{
"version": "6.12.54",
"lessThanOrEqual": "6.12.*",
"versionType": "semver",
"status": "unaffected"
},
{
"version": "6.17.4",
"lessThanOrEqual": "6.17.*",
"versionType": "semver",
"status": "unaffected"
},
{
"version": "6.18",
"lessThanOrEqual": "*",
"versionType": "original_commit_for_fix",
"status": "unaffected"
}
]
}
]
}
],
"metrics": {
"cvssMetricV31": [
{
"source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
"type": "Secondary",
"cvssData": {
"version": "3.1",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"baseScore": 7.8,
"baseSeverity": "HIGH",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"privilegesRequired": "LOW",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
"integrityImpact": "HIGH",
"availabilityImpact": "HIGH"
},
"exploitabilityScore": 1.8,
"impactScore": 5.9
}
],
"ssvcV203": [
{
"source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"ssvcData": {
"timestamp": "2026-10-15T21:58:02.275858Z",
"id": "CVE-2025-40201",
"options": [
{
"exploitation": "none"
},
{
"automatable": "no"
},
{
"technicalImpact": "total"
}
],
"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"version": "2.0.3"
}
}
]
},
"references": [
{
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/132f827e7bac7373e1522e89709d70b43cae5342",
"source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67"
},
{
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"source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67"
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{
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"source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67"
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{
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"source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67"
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{
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a15f37a40145c986cdf289a4b88390f35efdecc4",
"source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67"
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}