Linux Kernel up to 6.6.102/6.12.43/6.16.3 client.c mei_cldev_disable use after free

| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 7.7 | $0-$5k | 0.00 |
Summary
A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.102/6.12.43/6.16.3. It has been classified as critical. This affects the function mei_cldev_disable of the file drivers/misc/mei/client.c. Performing a manipulation results in use after free.
This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2025-39711. There is no exploit available.
Upgrading the affected component is recommended.
Details
A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.102/6.12.43/6.16.3. This affects the function mei_cldev_disable of the file drivers/misc/mei/client.c. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: media: ivsc: Fix crash at shutdown due to missing mei_cldev_disable() calls Both the ACE and CSI driver are missing a mei_cldev_disable() call in their remove() function. This causes the mei_cl client to stay part of the mei_device->file_list list even though its memory is freed by mei_cl_bus_dev_release() calling kfree(cldev->cl). This leads to a use-after-free when mei_vsc_remove() runs mei_stop() which first removes all mei bus devices calling mei_ace_remove() and mei_csi_remove() followed by mei_cl_bus_dev_release() and then calls mei_cl_all_disconnect() which walks over mei_device->file_list dereferecing the just freed cldev->cl. And mei_vsc_remove() it self is run at shutdown because of the platform_device_unregister(tp->pdev) in vsc_tp_shutdown() When building a kernel with KASAN this leads to the following KASAN report: [ 106.634504] ================================================================== [ 106.634623] BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in mei_cl_set_disconnected (drivers/misc/mei/client.c:783) mei [ 106.634683] Read of size 4 at addr ffff88819cb62018 by task systemd-shutdow/1 [ 106.634729] [ 106.634767] Tainted: [E]=UNSIGNED_MODULE [ 106.634770] Hardware name: Dell Inc. XPS 16 9640/09CK4V, BIOS 1.12.0 02/10/2025 [ 106.634773] Call Trace: [ 106.634777] <TASK> ... [ 106.634871] kasan_report (mm/kasan/report.c:221 mm/kasan/report.c:636) [ 106.634901] mei_cl_set_disconnected (drivers/misc/mei/client.c:783) mei [ 106.634921] mei_cl_all_disconnect (drivers/misc/mei/client.c:2165 (discriminator 4)) mei [ 106.634941] mei_reset (drivers/misc/mei/init.c:163) mei ... [ 106.635042] mei_stop (drivers/misc/mei/init.c:348) mei [ 106.635062] mei_vsc_remove (drivers/misc/mei/mei_dev.h:784 drivers/misc/mei/platform-vsc.c:393) mei_vsc [ 106.635066] platform_remove (drivers/base/platform.c:1424) Add the missing mei_cldev_disable() calls so that the mei_cl gets removed from mei_device->file_list before it is freed to fix this.
The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-39711 since 04/16/2025. The exploitability is told to be easy. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 02/09/2026).
The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 261605 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-39711), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.
Upgrading to version 6.6.103, 6.12.44, 6.16.4 or 6.17-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 3c0e4cc4f55f9a1db2a761e4ffb27c9594245888/639f5b33fcd7c59157f29b09f6f2866eacf9279c/1dfe73394dcfc9b049c8da0dc181c45f156a5f49/0c92c49fc688cfadacc47ae99b06a31237702e9e is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.
The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (261605) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1988). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Affected
- Debian Linux
- Google Cloud Platform
- Amazon Linux 2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- Ubuntu Linux
- SUSE Linux
- Oracle Linux
- NetApp FAS
- NetApp AFF
- NetApp ActiveIQ Unified Manager
- SUSE openSUSE
- RESF Rocky Linux
- Open Source Linux Kernel
- Microsoft Azure
- Dell Secure Connect Gateway
- IBM QRadar SIEM
- IBM Security Verify Access
- Dell NetWorker
Product
Type
Vendor
Name
Version
- 6.6.102
- 6.12.0
- 6.12.1
- 6.12.2
- 6.12.3
- 6.12.4
- 6.12.5
- 6.12.6
- 6.12.7
- 6.12.8
- 6.12.9
- 6.12.10
- 6.12.11
- 6.12.12
- 6.12.13
- 6.12.14
- 6.12.15
- 6.12.16
- 6.12.17
- 6.12.18
- 6.12.19
- 6.12.20
- 6.12.21
- 6.12.22
- 6.12.23
- 6.12.24
- 6.12.25
- 6.12.26
- 6.12.27
- 6.12.28
- 6.12.29
- 6.12.30
- 6.12.31
- 6.12.32
- 6.12.33
- 6.12.34
- 6.12.35
- 6.12.36
- 6.12.37
- 6.12.38
- 6.12.39
- 6.12.40
- 6.12.41
- 6.12.42
- 6.12.43
- 6.16.0
- 6.16.1
- 6.16.2
- 6.16.3
License
Website
- Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔒VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.9VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.7
VulDB Base Score: 8.0
VulDB Temp Score: 7.6
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔒
CVSSv2
| AV | AC | Au | C | I | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| Vector | Complexity | Authentication | Confidentiality | Integrity | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Use after freeCWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒
Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially
Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒
| 0-Day | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
Nessus ID: 261605
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-39711
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: UpgradeStatus: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔒
Upgrade: Kernel 6.6.103/6.12.44/6.16.4/6.17-rc1
Patch: 3c0e4cc4f55f9a1db2a761e4ffb27c9594245888/639f5b33fcd7c59157f29b09f6f2866eacf9279c/1dfe73394dcfc9b049c8da0dc181c45f156a5f49/0c92c49fc688cfadacc47ae99b06a31237702e9e
Timeline
04/16/2025 CVE reserved09/05/2025 Advisory disclosed
09/05/2025 VulDB entry created
02/09/2026 VulDB entry last update
Sources
Vendor: kernel.orgAdvisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed
CVE: CVE-2025-39711 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-39711
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-322929
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1988 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service
Entry
Created: 09/05/2025 22:03Updated: 02/09/2026 19:21
Changes: 09/05/2025 22:03 (59), 09/07/2025 12:18 (2), 11/06/2025 20:39 (7), 11/26/2025 23:09 (12), 11/27/2025 19:56 (1), 01/03/2026 15:02 (1), 01/20/2026 09:40 (1), 02/09/2026 19:21 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
No comments yet. Languages: en.
Please log in to comment.