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CVE Record

CVE-2025-40261: nvme: nvme-fc: Ensure ->ioerr_work is cancelled in nvme_fc_delete_ctrl()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nvme: nvme-fc: Ensure ->ioerr_work is cancelled in nvme_fc_delete_ctrl() nvme_fc_delete_assocation() waits for pending I/O to complete before returning, and an error can cause ->ioerr_work to be queued after cancel_work_sync() had been called. Move the call to cancel_work_sync() to be after nvme_fc_delete_association() to ensure ->ioerr_work is not running when the nvme_fc_ctrl object is freed. Otherwise the following can occur: [ 1135.911754] list_del corruption, ff2d24c8093f31f8->next is NULL [ 1135.917705] ------------[ cut here ]------------ [ 1135.922336] kernel BUG at lib/list_debug.c:52! [ 1135.926784] Oops: invalid opcode: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI [ 1135.931851] CPU: 48 UID: 0 PID: 726 Comm: kworker/u449:23 Kdump: loaded Not tainted 6.12.0 #1 PREEMPT(voluntary) [ 1135.943490] Hardware name: Dell Inc. PowerEdge R660/0HGTK9, BIOS 2.5.4 01/16/2025 [ 1135.950969] Workqueue: 0x0 (nvme-wq) [ 1135.954673] RIP: 0010:__list_del_entry_valid_or_report.cold+0xf/0x6f [ 1135.961041] Code: c7 c7 98 68 72 94 e8 26 45 fe ff 0f 0b 48 c7 c7 70 68 72 94 e8 18 45 fe ff 0f 0b 48 89 fe 48 c7 c7 80 69 72 94 e8 07 45 fe ff <0f> 0b 48 89 d1 48 c7 c7 a0 6a 72 94 48 89 c2 e8 f3 44 fe ff 0f 0b [ 1135.979788] RSP: 0018:ff579b19482d3e50 EFLAGS: 00010046 [ 1135.985015] RAX: 0000000000000033 RBX: ff2d24c8093f31f0 RCX: 0000000000000000 [ 1135.992148] RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: ff2d24d6bfa1d0c0 RDI: ff2d24d6bfa1d0c0 [ 1135.999278] RBP: ff2d24c8093f31f8 R08: 0000000000000000 R09: ffffffff951e2b08 [ 1136.006413] R10: ffffffff95122ac8 R11: 0000000000000003 R12: ff2d24c78697c100 [ 1136.013546] R13: fffffffffffffff8 R14: 0000000000000000 R15: ff2d24c78697c0c0 [ 1136.020677] FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ff2d24d6bfa00000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 [ 1136.028765] CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 [ 1136.034510] CR2: 00007fd207f90b80 CR3: 000000163ea22003 CR4: 0000000000f73ef0 [ 1136.041641] DR0: 0000000000000000 DR1: 0000000000000000 DR2: 0000000000000000 [ 1136.048776] DR3: 0000000000000000 DR6: 00000000fffe07f0 DR7: 0000000000000400 [ 1136.055910] PKRU: 55555554 [ 1136.058623] Call Trace: [ 1136.061074] <TASK> [ 1136.063179] ? show_trace_log_lvl+0x1b0/0x2f0 [ 1136.067540] ? show_trace_log_lvl+0x1b0/0x2f0 [ 1136.071898] ? move_linked_works+0x4a/0xa0 [ 1136.075998] ? __list_del_entry_valid_or_report.cold+0xf/0x6f [ 1136.081744] ? __die_body.cold+0x8/0x12 [ 1136.085584] ? die+0x2e/0x50 [ 1136.088469] ? do_trap+0xca/0x110 [ 1136.091789] ? do_error_trap+0x65/0x80 [ 1136.095543] ? __list_del_entry_valid_or_report.cold+0xf/0x6f [ 1136.101289] ? exc_invalid_op+0x50/0x70 [ 1136.105127] ? __list_del_entry_valid_or_report.cold+0xf/0x6f [ 1136.110874] ? asm_exc_invalid_op+0x1a/0x20 [ 1136.115059] ? __list_del_entry_valid_or_report.cold+0xf/0x6f [ 1136.120806] move_linked_works+0x4a/0xa0 [ 1136.124733] worker_thread+0x216/0x3a0 [ 1136.128485] ? __pfx_worker_thread+0x10/0x10 [ 1136.132758] kthread+0xfa/0x240 [ 1136.135904] ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 [ 1136.139657] ret_from_fork+0x31/0x50 [ 1136.143236] ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 [ 1136.146988] ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 [ 1136.150915] </TASK>

CriticalCVSS 9.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysiscritical

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux NVMe over Fibre Channel cleanup race can leave background error work running after its controller object is freed. The documented result is kernel data-structure corruption and a crash, potentially disrupting storage-dependent workloads. Exposure appears limited to systems using the affected NVMe/FC path.

Executive priority

Treat as urgent for business-critical Linux storage hosts using NVMe/FC because a kernel crash could interrupt storage and dependent services. Use normal accelerated patch governance rather than emergency internet-edge response: active exploitation is not established, and the source does not demonstrate confidentiality or integrity compromise despite the critical CVSS rating.

Technical view

During nvme_fc_delete_ctrl(), an I/O error can queue ioerr_work after its earlier cancellation. Controller teardown may then free nvme_fc_ctrl while that work remains active, creating an unsafe object-lifetime race. The stable correction moves cancel_work_sync() after nvme_fc_delete_association(). The supplied trace demonstrates list corruption and a kernel BUG.

Likely exposure

Prioritize Linux hosts actively using NVMe over Fibre Channel, particularly storage servers where controller associations can be deleted during I/O errors. The supplied affected-version data is internally difficult to interpret and includes commit identifiers alongside releases, so determine exposure through distribution advisories and backport status rather than version strings alone.

Exploitation context

The supplied record is not in CISA KEV and provides no evidence of active exploitation, a public exploit, or proven remote compromise. Although the supplied CVSS vector is network-accessible and scores 9.8, the technical description only demonstrates a teardown race causing kernel corruption and a crash. Preconditions and attacker controllability remain unclear.

Researcher notes

The evidence supports a workqueue lifetime race consistent with work executing after nvme_fc_ctrl is freed. The reproduced outcome is list corruption and kernel failure. The record's CVSS claims confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, but the supplied technical narrative substantiates availability most clearly. Trigger reachability, attacker control, and affected branch boundaries require further vendor confirmation.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply a vendor-supported kernel containing the referenced nvme-fc correction or its verified backport.
  • Check Linux distribution and appliance-vendor advisories for exact fixed package versions.
  • Prioritize remediation on production hosts actively using NVMe over Fibre Channel.
  • Where immediate patching is impossible, reduce reliance on affected NVMe/FC paths using vendor-approved procedures.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory kernel versions and identify hosts with active NVMe over Fibre Channel configurations.
  • Confirm installed kernel packages include the correction or a distribution-supported backport.
  • Review kernel logs for nvme-wq crashes, list_del corruption, or BUG events during controller teardown.
  • After updating, verify hosts booted into the corrected kernel and storage operations remain healthy.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
9

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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CVE-2025-40261 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Critical
CVSS
9.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
11Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
9.8CVSS 3.1CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

9.8Critical
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-40261Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

siemens-SADPADP container

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxf1cd8c40936ff2b560e1f35159dd6a4602b558e5, 19fce0470f05031e6af36e49ce222d0f0050d432, 19fce0470f05031e6af36e49ce222d0f0050d432, 19fce0470f05031e6af36e49ce222d0f0050d432, 19fce0470f05031e6af36e49ce222d0f0050d432, 19fce0470f05031e6af36e49ce222d0f0050d432, 19fce0470f05031e6af36e49ce222d0f0050d432, 5.10.9unaffected
LinuxLinux5.11, 0, 5.10.253, 5.15.209, 6.1.167, 6.6.118, 6.12.60, 6.17.10, 6.18affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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