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

fs/proc: fix uaf in proc_readdir_de()

Pde is erased from subdir rbtree through rb_erase(), but not set the node
to EMPTY, which may result in uaf access. We should use RB_CLEAR_NODE()
set the erased node to EMPTY, then pde_subdir_next() will return NULL to
avoid uaf access.

We found an uaf issue while using stress-ng testing, need to run testcase
getdent and tun in the same time. The steps of the issue is as follows:

1) use getdent to traverse dir /proc/pid/net/dev_snmp6/, and current
pde is tun3;

2) in the [time windows] unregister netdevice tun3 and tun2, and erase
them from rbtree. erase tun3 first, and then erase tun2. the
pde(tun2) will be released to slab;

3) continue to getdent process, then pde_subdir_next() will return
pde(tun2) which is released, it will case uaf access.

CPU 0 | CPU 1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
traverse dir /proc/pid/net/dev_snmp6/ | unregister_netdevice(tun->dev) //tun3 tun2
sys_getdents64() |
iterate_dir() |
proc_readdir() |
proc_readdir_de() | snmp6_unregister_dev()
pde_get(de); | proc_remove()
read_unlock(&proc_subdir_lock); | remove_proc_subtree()
| write_lock(&proc_subdir_lock);
[time window] | rb_erase(&root->subdir_node, &parent->subdir);
| write_unlock(&proc_subdir_lock);
read_lock(&proc_subdir_lock); |
next = pde_subdir_next(de); |
pde_put(de); |
de = next; //UAF |

rbtree of dev_snmp6
|
pde(tun3)
/ \
NULL pde(tun2)
Advisories

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Fixes

Solution

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Workaround

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History

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 22:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs/proc: fix uaf in proc_readdir_de() Pde is erased from subdir rbtree through rb_erase(), but not set the node to EMPTY, which may result in uaf access. We should use RB_CLEAR_NODE() set the erased node to EMPTY, then pde_subdir_next() will return NULL to avoid uaf access. We found an uaf issue while using stress-ng testing, need to run testcase getdent and tun in the same time. The steps of the issue is as follows: 1) use getdent to traverse dir /proc/pid/net/dev_snmp6/, and current pde is tun3; 2) in the [time windows] unregister netdevice tun3 and tun2, and erase them from rbtree. erase tun3 first, and then erase tun2. the pde(tun2) will be released to slab; 3) continue to getdent process, then pde_subdir_next() will return pde(tun2) which is released, it will case uaf access. CPU 0 | CPU 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- traverse dir /proc/pid/net/dev_snmp6/ | unregister_netdevice(tun->dev) //tun3 tun2 sys_getdents64() | iterate_dir() | proc_readdir() | proc_readdir_de() | snmp6_unregister_dev() pde_get(de); | proc_remove() read_unlock(&proc_subdir_lock); | remove_proc_subtree() | write_lock(&proc_subdir_lock); [time window] | rb_erase(&root->subdir_node, &parent->subdir); | write_unlock(&proc_subdir_lock); read_lock(&proc_subdir_lock); | next = pde_subdir_next(de); | pde_put(de); | de = next; //UAF | rbtree of dev_snmp6 | pde(tun3) / \ NULL pde(tun2)
Title fs/proc: fix uaf in proc_readdir_de()
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2025-12-06T21:50:53.266Z

Reserved: 2025-04-16T07:20:57.183Z

Link: CVE-2025-40271

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2025-12-06T22:15:54.737

Modified: 2025-12-06T22:15:54.737

Link: CVE-2025-40271

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses

No weakness.