CVE-2025-21756
Published: April 11, 2026
Official Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
vsock: Keep the binding until socket destruction
Preserve sockets bindings; this includes both resulting from an explicit
bind() and those implicitly bound through autobind during connect().
Prevents socket unbinding during a transport reassignment, which fixes a
use-after-free:
1. vsock_create() (refcnt=1) calls vsock_insert_unbound() (refcnt=2)
2. transport->release() calls vsock_remove_bound() without checking if
sk was bound and moved to bound list (refcnt=1)
3. vsock_bind() assumes sk is in unbound list and before
__vsock_insert_bound(vsock_bound_sockets()) calls
__vsock_remove_bound() which does:
list_del_init(&vsk->bound_table); // nop
sock_put(&vsk->sk); // refcnt=0
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in __vsock_bind+0x62e/0x730
Read of size 4 at addr ffff88816b46a74c by task a.out/2057
dump_stack_lvl+0x68/0x90
print_report+0x174/0x4f6
kasan_report+0xb9/0x190
__vsock_bind+0x62e/0x730
vsock_bind+0x97/0xe0
__sys_bind+0x154/0x1f0
__x64_sys_bind+0x6e/0xb0
do_syscall_64+0x93/0x1b0
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e
Allocated by task 2057:
kasan_save_stack+0x1e/0x40
kasan_save_track+0x10/0x30
__kasan_slab_alloc+0x85/0x90
kmem_cache_alloc_noprof+0x131/0x450
sk_prot_alloc+0x5b/0x220
sk_alloc+0x2c/0x870
__vsock_create.constprop.0+0x2e/0xb60
vsock_create+0xe4/0x420
__sock_create+0x241/0x650
__sys_socket+0xf2/0x1a0
__x64_sys_socket+0x6e/0xb0
do_syscall_64+0x93/0x1b0
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e
Freed by task 2057:
kasan_save_stack+0x1e/0x40
kasan_save_track+0x10/0x30
kasan_save_free_info+0x37/0x60
__kasan_slab_free+0x4b/0x70
kmem_cache_free+0x1a1/0x590
__sk_destruct+0x388/0x5a0
__vsock_bind+0x5e1/0x730
vsock_bind+0x97/0xe0
__sys_bind+0x154/0x1f0
__x64_sys_bind+0x6e/0xb0
do_syscall_64+0x93/0x1b0
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e
refcount_t: addition on 0; use-after-free.
WARNING: CPU: 7 PID: 2057 at lib/refcount.c:25 refcount_warn_saturate+0xce/0x150
RIP: 0010:refcount_warn_saturate+0xce/0x150
__vsock_bind+0x66d/0x730
vsock_bind+0x97/0xe0
__sys_bind+0x154/0x1f0
__x64_sys_bind+0x6e/0xb0
do_syscall_64+0x93/0x1b0
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e
refcount_t: underflow; use-after-free.
WARNING: CPU: 7 PID: 2057 at lib/refcount.c:28 refcount_warn_saturate+0xee/0x150
RIP: 0010:refcount_warn_saturate+0xee/0x150
vsock_remove_bound+0x187/0x1e0
__vsock_release+0x383/0x4a0
vsock_release+0x90/0x120
__sock_release+0xa3/0x250
sock_close+0x14/0x20
__fput+0x359/0xa80
task_work_run+0x107/0x1d0
do_exit+0x847/0x2560
do_group_exit+0xb8/0x250
__x64_sys_exit_group+0x3a/0x50
x64_sys_call+0xfec/0x14f0
do_syscall_64+0x93/0x1b0
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e
Technical Analysis
CVE-2025-21756 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.
Exploitation requires some privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.
CISA has added CVE-2025-21756 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild. U.S. federal agencies are required to patch this within the mandated timeframe, and all organizations should treat remediation as urgent.
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
Quick Facts
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2025-21756 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
- !CISA KEV: Federal agencies must patch per BOD 22-01 timeline
- !Active exploitation confirmed — treat as P1