CVE-2025-40231 — vsock: fix lock inversion in vsock_assign_transport()
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: vsock: fix lock inversion in vsock_assign_transport() Syzbot reported a potential lock inversion deadlock between vsock_register_mutex and sk_lock-AF_VSOCK when vsock_linger() is called. The issue was introduced by commit 687aa0c5581b ("vsock: Fix transport_* TOCTOU") which added vsock_register_mutex locking in vsock_assign_transport() around the transport->release() call, that can call vsock_linger(). vsock_assign_transport() can be called with sk_lock held. vsock_linger() calls sk_wait_event() that temporarily releases and re-acquires sk_lock. During this window, if another thread hold vsock_register_mutex while trying to acquire sk_lock, a circular dependency is created. Fix this by releasing vsock_register_mutex before calling transport->release() and vsock_deassign_transport(). This is safe because we don't need to hold vsock_register_mutex while releasing the old transport, and we ensure the new transport won't disappear by obtaining a module reference first via try_module_get().
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- EPSS 0.2% (30-day exploitation probability)+2
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Linux Linux).
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- Search available logs for exploit probes, errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux |
≥ 8667e8d0eb46bc54fdae30ba2f4786407d3d88eb and < ce4f856c64f0bc30e29302a0ce41f4295ca391c5≥ 36a439049b34cca0b3661276049b84a1f76cc21a and < 09bba278ccde25a14b6e5088a9e65a8717d0cccf≥ 9ce53e744f18e73059d3124070e960f3aa9902bf and < b44182c116778feaa05da52a426aeb9da1878dcf≥ 9d24bb6780282b0255b9929abe5e8f98007e2c6e and < 42ed0784d11adebf748711e503af0eb9f1e6d81d≥ ae2c712ba39c7007de63cb0c75b51ce1caaf1da5 and < 251caee792a21eb0b781aab91362b422c945e162≥ 687aa0c5581b8d4aa87fd92973e4ee576b550cdf and < a2a4346eea8b4cb75037dbcb20b98cb454324f80≥ 687aa0c5581b8d4aa87fd92973e4ee576b550cdf and < f7c877e7535260cc7a21484c994e8ce7e8cb6780version 7b73bddf54777fb62d4d8c7729d0affe6df04477 and 7 more≥ 5.10.240 and < 5.10.246≥ 5.15.189 and < 5.15.196≥ 6.1.146 and < 6.1.158≥ 6.6.99 and < 6.6.115≥ 6.12.39 and < 6.12.56≥ 6.15.7 and < 6.16version 6.16 |
Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 13, 2026 → Oct 14, 2026 · 2 reading(s) · max 0.21%
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Not enough vector or weakness data: use the affected application’s logs as a starting point.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Record published
- Affected products added · linux/linux
- Source status changed · → Deferred
- Record created in this database
- 2025
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
References
7 on the record
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/42ed0784d11adebf748711e503af0eb9f1e6d81d
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/09bba278ccde25a14b6e5088a9e65a8717d0cccf
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f7c877e7535260cc7a21484c994e8ce7e8cb6780
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b44182c116778feaa05da52a426aeb9da1878dcf
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ce4f856c64f0bc30e29302a0ce41f4295ca391c5
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a2a4346eea8b4cb75037dbcb20b98cb454324f80
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/251caee792a21eb0b781aab91362b422c945e162
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
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- Unknown CVE-2026-98425 wifi: mac80211: don't warn when an IBSS has no channel to scan 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98426 wifi: mwifiex: fix IRQ leak using wrong index in MSI-X error path 1d
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Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No CVSS score published by NVD, the CNA, CISA or GitHub so far.
- No fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- No CISA SSVC assessment.
- No CWE classification.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2025-40231 is "vsock: fix lock inversion in vsock_assign_transport()", rated Unknown. It affects Linux (Linux); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. EPSS 0.21% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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