futex: Don't leak robust_list pointer on exec race
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
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- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 2 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: futex: Don't leak robust_list pointer on exec race sys_get_robust_list() and compat_get_robust_list() use ptrace_may_access() to check if the calling task is allowed to access another task's robust_list pointer. This check is racy against a concurrent exec() in the target process. During exec(), a task may transition from a non-privileged binary to a privileged one (e.g., setuid binary) and its credentials/memory mappings may change. If get_robust_list() performs ptrace_may_access() before this transition, it may erroneously allow access to sensitive information after the target becomes privileged. A racy access allows an attacker to exploit a window during which ptrace_may_access() passes before a target process transitions to a privileged state via exec(). For example, consider a non-privileged task T that is about to execute a setuid-root binary. An attacker task A calls get_robust_list(T) while T is still unprivileged. Since ptrace_may_access() checks permissions based on current credentials, it succeeds. However, if T begins exec immediately afterwards, it becomes privileged and may change its memory mappings. Because get_robust_list() proceeds to access T->robust_list without synchronizing with exec() it may read user-space pointers from a now-privileged process. This violates the intended post-exec access restrictions and could expose sensitive memory addresses or be used as a primitive in a larger exploit chain. Consequently, the race can lead to unauthorized disclosure of information across privilege boundaries and poses a potential security risk. Take a read lock on signal->exec_update_lock prior to invoking ptrace_may_access() and accessing the robust_list/compat_robust_list. This ensures that the target task's exec state remains stable during the check, allowing for consistent and synchronized validation of credentials.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.1.159, 6.6.117, 6.12.58, 6.17.8, 6.18
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 3 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-40341
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-j584-qjqw-5mpw
References
Other 5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6511984d1aa1360181bcafb1ca75df7f291ef237
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4aced32596ead1820b7dbd8e40d30b30dc1f3ad4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3b4222494489f6d4b8705a496dab03384b7ca998
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b524455a51feb6013df3a5dba3160487b2e8e22a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6b54082c3ed4dc9821cdf0edb17302355cc5bb45
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Sources
- CVE-2025-40341 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-40341 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-j584-qjqw-5mpw · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-40341 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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