CVE-2025-40018
Description
From CVE.org
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipvs: Defer ip_vs_ftp unregister during netns cleanup On the netns cleanup path, __ip_vs_ftp_exit() may unregister ip_vs_ftp before connections with valid cp->app pointers are flushed, leading to a use-after-free. Fix this by introducing a global `exiting_module` flag, set to true in ip_vs_ftp_exit() before unregistering the pernet subsystem. In __ip_vs_ftp_exit(), skip ip_vs_ftp unregister if called during netns cleanup (when exiting_module is false) and defer it to __ip_vs_cleanup_batch(), which unregisters all apps after all connections are flushed. If called during module exit, unregister ip_vs_ftp immediately.
Statement
IPVS FTP helper could be unregistered during netns cleanup while connections still held valid cp->app pointers, leading to a use-after-free when those connections were later processed. A local privileged actor (able to manage IPVS and network namespaces) could trigger a kernel crash or memory corruption. The fix introduces an exiting_module guard and defers unregistering the helper to the batch cleanup after all connections are flushed, while keeping immediate unregister on module exit. Keep Moderate impact rating — exploitation requires local privileged access (root or CAP_NET_ADMIN to manage IPVS / network namespaces), so it is unlikely that an unprivileged local user can trigger this issue.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 6.6 | N/A | 7.8 |
| Attack Vector | Local | N/A | Local |
| Attack Complexity | Low | N/A | Low |
| Privileges Required | Low | N/A | Low |
| User Interaction | None | N/A | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | N/A | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | Low | N/A | High |
| Integrity Impact | Low | N/A | High |
| Availability Impact | High | N/A | High |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Integrity
Technical Impact: Modify Memory
The use of previously freed memory may corrupt valid data, if the memory area in question has been allocated and used properly elsewhere.
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
If chunk consolidation occurs after the use of previously freed data, the process may crash when invalid data is used as chunk information.
Confidentiality
Technical Impact: Read Memory
Read operations on freed memory can sometimes leak sensitive information instead of causing a crash
Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability
Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
If malicious data is entered before chunk consolidation can take place, it may be possible to take advantage of a write-what-where primitive to execute arbitrary code. If the newly allocated data happens to hold a class, in C++ for example, various function pointers may be scattered within the heap data. If one of these function pointers is overwritten with an address to valid shellcode, execution of arbitrary code can be achieved.
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