CVE-2025-22035: linux Use After Free

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2025-22035 is a high (CVSS 7.8) Use After Free vulnerability in linux. EPSS estimates a 0.30% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 21.3% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 16-04-2025
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 05-08-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tracing: Fix use-after-free in print_graph_function_flags during tracer switching Kairui reported a UAF issue in print_graph_function_flags() during ftrace stress testing [1]. This issue can be reproduced if puting a 'mdelay(10)' after 'mutex_unlock(&trace_types_lock)' in s_start(), and executing the following script: $ echo function_graph > current_tracer $ cat trace > /dev/null & $ sleep 5 # Ensure the 'cat' reaches the 'mdelay(10)' point $ echo timerlat > current_tracer The root cause lies in the two calls to print_graph_function_flags within print_trace_line during each s_show(): * One through 'iter->trace->print_line()'; * Another through 'event->funcs->trace()', which is hidden in print_trace_fmt() before print_trace_line returns. Tracer switching only updates the former, while the latter continues to use the print_line function of the old tracer, which in the script above is print_graph_function_flags. Moreover, when switching from the 'function_graph' tracer to the 'timerlat' tracer, s_start only calls graph_trace_close of the 'function_graph' tracer to free 'iter->private', but does not set it to NULL. This provides an opportunity for 'event->funcs->trace()' to use an invalid 'iter->private'. To fix this issue, set 'iter->private' to NULL immediately after freeing it in graph_trace_close(), ensuring that an invalid pointer is not passed to other tracers. Additionally, clean up the unnecessary 'iter->private = NULL' during each 'cat trace' when using wakeup and irqsoff tracers. [1] https://lore.kernel.org/all/20231112150030.84609-1-ryncsn@gmail.com/

• CWE-416Use After FreeThe product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory "belongs" to the code that operates on the new pointer.