Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A flaw in Linux IPMI message handling can cause a use-after-free when enforcing per-user message limits. A locally authenticated, low-privileged attacker may be able to crash the system or potentially compromise sensitive data and system integrity. The supplied CVSS score is 7.8, making this a high-severity issue.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority kernel update for systems exposing IPMI functionality to local users. Internet-facing emergency patching is not indicated by the supplied evidence because exploitation requires local access and active exploitation is unconfirmed. Accelerate remediation where untrusted users, shared hosting, or compromised service accounts could obtain local execution.
Technical view
The Linux kernel IPMI subsystem incorrectly counted user messages and mishandled object lifetimes, creating a use-after-free. The fix centralizes allocation, reference counting, and limit accounting in the receive-message allocation routine. The CVSS vector requires local access and low privileges, with no user interaction; confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts are rated high.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on systems running an affected Linux kernel and using the IPMI user-message interface. Exploitation requires local, low-privileged access according to the supplied CVSS vector. The bundle identifies affected versions but does not preserve sufficiently clear range semantics, so confirm applicability against the appropriate kernel or distribution advisory.
Exploitation context
The supplied record is not listed in CISA KEV, and no cited source establishes active exploitation or a public proof of concept. The vulnerability is not remotely reachable under the supplied CVSS vector; an attacker must already have local low-privileged access. Practical exploitability and reliability are not established by the bundle.
Researcher notes
The record describes improper message counting and a use-after-free but assigns no CWE and provides no triggering details. Five stable-kernel commits are cited, apparently covering multiple maintained branches. Exact affected ranges are unclear in the supplied normalized version list; validate branch ancestry or rely on distribution advisories rather than interpreting the listed versions as complete boundaries.
Mitigation direction
- Update to a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable referenced stable fix.
- Consult the Linux distribution advisory to confirm corrected package versions and reboot requirements.
- Prioritize multi-user, administrative, virtualization, and server-management systems where local accounts and IPMI coexist.
- Restrict unnecessary local access and IPMI device permissions until patched.
Validation and detection
- Record the running kernel release and distribution package version on potentially exposed systems.
- Confirm whether IPMI modules and the user-message interface are present or used.
- Compare kernel packages against distribution guidance and the referenced stable commits.
- After updating, verify the corrected kernel is running following any required reboot.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CVE-2025-40202 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9LinuxVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f63723ca7d7623f9dae1990973cd158671f03c56CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/348121b29594d42d1635648fd3ed31dfa25351d5CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/53d6e403affbf6df2c859a0ea00ccfc1e72090caCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0ed73be9a2547ffb9b5c1d879ad9bfab73d920b5CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b52da4054ee0bf9ecb44996f2c83236ff50b3812CVE reference, Linux
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.