Linux Kernel up to 6.12.61/6.17.11 nvme request_queue use after free

| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 7.6 | $0-$5k | 0.00 |
Summary
A vulnerability marked as critical has been reported in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.61/6.17.11. This vulnerability affects the function request_queue of the component nvme. This manipulation causes use after free.
This vulnerability appears as CVE-2025-68265. There is no available exploit.
It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.
Details
A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.61/6.17.11. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function request_queue of the component nvme. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nvme: fix admin request_queue lifetime The namespaces can access the controller's admin request_queue, and stale references on the namespaces may exist after tearing down the controller. Ensure the admin request_queue is active by moving the controller's 'put' to after all controller references have been released to ensure no one is can access the request_queue. This fixes a reported use-after-free bug: BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in blk_queue_enter+0x41c/0x4a0 Read of size 8 at addr ffff88c0a53819f8 by task nvme/3287 CPU: 67 UID: 0 PID: 3287 Comm: nvme Tainted: G E 6.13.2-ga1582f1a031e #15 Tainted: [E]=UNSIGNED_MODULE Hardware name: Jabil /EGS 2S MB1, BIOS 1.00 06/18/2025 Call Trace: <TASK> dump_stack_lvl+0x4f/0x60 print_report+0xc4/0x620 ? _raw_spin_lock_irqsave+0x70/0xb0 ? _raw_read_unlock_irqrestore+0x30/0x30 ? blk_queue_enter+0x41c/0x4a0 kasan_report+0xab/0xe0 ? blk_queue_enter+0x41c/0x4a0 blk_queue_enter+0x41c/0x4a0 ? __irq_work_queue_local+0x75/0x1d0 ? blk_queue_start_drain+0x70/0x70 ? irq_work_queue+0x18/0x20 ? vprintk_emit.part.0+0x1cc/0x350 ? wake_up_klogd_work_func+0x60/0x60 blk_mq_alloc_request+0x2b7/0x6b0 ? __blk_mq_alloc_requests+0x1060/0x1060 ? __switch_to+0x5b7/0x1060 nvme_submit_user_cmd+0xa9/0x330 nvme_user_cmd.isra.0+0x240/0x3f0 ? force_sigsegv+0xe0/0xe0 ? nvme_user_cmd64+0x400/0x400 ? vfs_fileattr_set+0x9b0/0x9b0 ? cgroup_update_frozen_flag+0x24/0x1c0 ? cgroup_leave_frozen+0x204/0x330 ? nvme_ioctl+0x7c/0x2c0 blkdev_ioctl+0x1a8/0x4d0 ? blkdev_common_ioctl+0x1930/0x1930 ? fdget+0x54/0x380 __x64_sys_ioctl+0x129/0x190 do_syscall_64+0x5b/0x160 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x4b/0x53 RIP: 0033:0x7f765f703b0b Code: ff ff ff 85 c0 79 9b 49 c7 c4 ff ff ff ff 5b 5d 4c 89 e0 41 5c c3 66 0f 1f 84 00 00 00 00 00 f3 0f 1e fa b8 10 00 00 00 0f 05 <48> 3d 01 f0 ff ff 73 01 c3 48 8b 0d dd 52 0f 00 f7 d8 64 89 01 48 RSP: 002b:00007ffe2cefe808 EFLAGS: 00000202 ORIG_RAX: 0000000000000010 RAX: ffffffffffffffda RBX: 00007ffe2cefe860 RCX: 00007f765f703b0b RDX: 00007ffe2cefe860 RSI: 00000000c0484e41 RDI: 0000000000000003 RBP: 0000000000000000 R08: 0000000000000003 R09: 0000000000000000 R10: 00007f765f611d50 R11: 0000000000000202 R12: 0000000000000003 R13: 00000000c0484e41 R14: 0000000000000001 R15: 00007ffe2cefea60 </TASK>
It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-68265 since 12/16/2025. The exploitation appears to be easy. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 02/22/2026).
The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 299530 (Amazon Linux 2023 : bpftool6.12, kernel6.12, kernel6.12-devel (ALAS2023-2026-1430)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.
Upgrading to version 6.12.62 or 6.17.12 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch e8061d02b49c5c901980f58d91e96580e9a14acf/e7dac681790556c131854b97551337aa8042215b/03b3bcd319b3ab5182bc9aaa0421351572c78ac0 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 (299530), EUVD (EUVD-2025-203749) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2868). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Affected
- Debian Linux
- Amazon Linux 2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- Ubuntu Linux
- SUSE Linux
- Oracle Linux
- SUSE openSUSE
- RESF Rocky Linux
- Open Source Linux Kernel
Product
Type
Vendor
Name
Version
- 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
- 6.12.44
- 6.12.45
- 6.12.46
- 6.12.47
- 6.12.48
- 6.12.49
- 6.12.50
- 6.12.51
- 6.12.52
- 6.12.53
- 6.12.54
- 6.12.55
- 6.12.56
- 6.12.57
- 6.12.58
- 6.12.59
- 6.12.60
- 6.12.61
- 6.17.0
- 6.17.1
- 6.17.2
- 6.17.3
- 6.17.4
- 6.17.5
- 6.17.6
- 6.17.7
- 6.17.8
- 6.17.9
- 6.17.10
- 6.17.11
License
Website
- Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔒VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.0VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.6
VulDB Base Score: 8.0
VulDB Temp Score: 7.6
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv2
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| Vector | Complexity | Authentication | Confidentiality | Integrity | Availability |
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Use after freeCWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒
Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Partially
Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒
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Nessus ID: 299530
Nessus Name: Amazon Linux 2023 : bpftool6.12, kernel6.12, kernel6.12-devel (ALAS2023-2026-1430)
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: UpgradeStatus: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔒
Upgrade: Kernel 6.12.62/6.17.12
Patch: e8061d02b49c5c901980f58d91e96580e9a14acf/e7dac681790556c131854b97551337aa8042215b/03b3bcd319b3ab5182bc9aaa0421351572c78ac0
Timeline
12/16/2025 Advisory disclosed12/16/2025 CVE reserved
12/16/2025 VulDB entry created
02/22/2026 VulDB entry last update
Sources
Vendor: kernel.orgAdvisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed
CVE: CVE-2025-68265 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-68265
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-336823
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2868 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen
Entry
Created: 12/16/2025 16:13Updated: 02/22/2026 06:28
Changes: 12/16/2025 16:13 (59), 12/17/2025 11:04 (1), 01/12/2026 05:59 (1), 01/20/2026 04:42 (7), 02/04/2026 06:11 (1), 02/19/2026 18:07 (2), 02/22/2026 06:28 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
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