Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fbcon: Set fb_display[i]-...
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
fbcon: Set fb_display[i]->mode to NULL when the mode is released
Recently, we discovered the following issue through syzkaller:
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in fb_mode_is_equal+0x285/0x2f0
Read of size 4 at addr ff11000001b3c69c by task syz.xxx
...
Call Trace:
dump_stack_lvl+0xab/0xe0
print_address_description.constprop.0+0x2c/0x390
print_report+0xb9/0x280
kasan_report+0xb8/0xf0
fb_mode_is_equal+0x285/0x2f0
fbcon_mode_deleted+0x129/0x180
fb_set_var+0xe7f/0x11d0
do_fb_ioctl+0x6a0/0x750
fb_ioctl+0xe0/0x140
__x64_sys_ioctl+0x193/0x210
do_syscall_64+0x5f/0x9c0
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e
Based on experimentation and analysis, during framebuffer unregistration,
only the memory of fb_info->modelist is freed, without setting the
corresponding fb_display[i]->mode to NULL for the freed modes. This leads
to UAF issues during subsequent accesses. Here's an example of reproduction
steps:
- With /dev/fb0 already registered in the system, load a kernel module
to register a new device /dev/fb1; - Set fb1's mode to the global fb_display[] array (via FBIOPUT_CON2FBMAP);
- Switch console from fb to VGA (to allow normal rmmod of the ko);
- Unload the kernel module, at this point fb1's modelist is freed, leaving
a wild pointer in fb_display[]; - Trigger the bug via system calls through fb0 attempting to delete a mode
from fb0.
Add a check in do_unregister_framebuffer(): if the mode to be freed exists
in fb_display[], set the corresponding mode pointer to NULL.
Impact
CVE-2025-40323 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (High). The vector is requires local access, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. No fixed version is listed yet, so configuration controls and monitoring matter more in the interim.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2025-40323? CVE-2025-40323 is a high-severity security vulnerability. No fixed version is listed yet.
- How severe is CVE-2025-40323? CVE-2025-40323 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2025-40323? No fixed version is listed for CVE-2025-40323 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
- Is CVE-2025-40323 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2025-40323 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2025-40323 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.