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CVE-2025-68263

9.8 · CRITICAL

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ksmbd: ipc: fix use-after-free in ipc_msg_send_request ipc_msg_send_request() waits for a generic netlink reply using an ipc_ms…

Published Dec 16, 2025EPSS 0.44%

Overview

CVE-2025-68263 is a critical-severity vulnerability. It was published on December 16, 2025 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).

This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.

Technical description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ksmbd: ipc: fix use-after-free in ipc_msg_send_request

ipc_msg_send_request() waits for a generic netlink reply using an

ipc_msg_table_entry on the stack. The generic netlink handler

(handle_generic_event()/handle_response()) fills entry->response under

ipc_msg_table_lock, but ipc_msg_send_request() used to validate and free

entry->response without holding the same lock.

Under high concurrency this allows a race where handle_response() is

copying data into entry->response while ipc_msg_send_request() has just

freed it, leading to a slab-use-after-free reported by KASAN in

handle_generic_event():

BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in handle_generic_event+0x3c4/0x5f0 [ksmbd]

Write of size 12 at addr ffff888198ee6e20 by task pool/109349

...

Freed by task:

kvfree

ipc_msg_send_request [ksmbd]

ksmbd_rpc_open -> ksmbd_session_rpc_open [ksmbd]

Fix by:

- Taking ipc_msg_table_lock in ipc_msg_send_request()

Remediation

Check the references section for vendor advisories, patches, and mitigation guidance. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2025-68263?

CVE-2025-68263 is a critical-severity vulnerability. It was published on December 16, 2025 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).

How severe is CVE-2025-68263?

This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.

How do I fix or remediate CVE-2025-68263?

Check the references section for vendor advisories, patches, and mitigation guidance. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2025-68263?

CyberStrike is an open-source, AI-augmented pentesting engine. Rather than flag a version number, it tests whether an issue like CVE-2025-68263 is actually reachable in your own applications and APIs, then verifies each finding before reporting it. That tells you if the weakness is a real, exploitable risk in your environment or a false positive you can safely deprioritize.

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