CVE-2025-71075 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 01/13/2026
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
scsi: aic94xx: fix use-after-free in device removal path
The asd_pci_remove() function fails to synchronize with pending tasklets before freeing the asd_ha structure, leading to a potential use-after-free vulnerability.
When a device removal is triggered (via hot-unplug or module unload), race condition can occur.
The fix adds tasklet_kill() before freeing the asd_ha structure, ensuring all scheduled tasklets complete before cleanup proceeds.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-71075 resides within the Linux kernel's SCSI subsystem, specifically affecting the aic94xx driver implementation. This driver manages the Adaptec aic94xx series of SCSI host adapters which are commonly used in enterprise storage environments. The flaw manifests in the device removal path where the asd_pci_remove() function does not properly synchronize with pending tasklets before proceeding with the cleanup of the asd_ha structure. This represents a classic use-after-free vulnerability pattern that can lead to system instability and potential security exploitation.
The technical flaw stems from a race condition occurring during device removal operations when either hot-unplugging hardware or unloading the kernel module. The asd_pci_remove() function initiates the cleanup process by freeing the asd_ha structure without ensuring that all pending tasklets have completed execution. Tasklets in the Linux kernel are lightweight interrupt handling mechanisms that can execute concurrently with the removal process, creating a window where freed memory might still be accessed by tasklets that were scheduled prior to the cleanup initiation. This synchronization failure allows for potential memory corruption scenarios where the freed structure could be accessed after deallocation, leading to unpredictable behavior and system crashes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability to potentially enable privilege escalation or denial of service attacks within enterprise storage environments. When exploited, the use-after-free condition could allow malicious actors to corrupt kernel memory structures, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with kernel privileges. The vulnerability affects systems running Linux kernels that include the aic94xx driver, particularly those managing storage arrays where hot-plugging capabilities are utilized. Organizations with mission-critical storage infrastructure using these adapters face significant risk as the vulnerability could be exploited to compromise storage subsystem integrity, potentially affecting data availability and system reliability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-71075 focus on implementing the upstream fix that introduces tasklet_kill() calls before structure deallocation. This approach ensures proper synchronization by waiting for all scheduled tasklets to complete execution before proceeding with memory cleanup operations. System administrators should prioritize kernel updates that include this fix, particularly in production environments where storage subsystem stability is paramount. Additionally, monitoring for unusual system behavior or kernel oops messages during device removal operations can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The fix aligns with security best practices outlined in the Common Weakness Enumeration standard CWE-416 which addresses use-after-free vulnerabilities, and follows the ATT&CK framework's defense evasion techniques by preventing memory corruption that could be leveraged for privilege escalation. Organizations should also implement proper patch management procedures to ensure timely deployment of kernel security updates across their storage infrastructure.