CVE-2025-71159
9.8 · CRITICALOverview
CVE-2025-71159 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting linux linux_kernel. It was published on January 23, 2026 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:
btrfs: fix use-after-free warning in btrfs_get_or_create_delayed_node()
Previously, btrfs_get_or_create_delayed_node() set the delayed_node's
refcount before acquiring the root->delayed_nodes lock.
Commit e8513c012de7 ("btrfs: implement ref_tracker for delayed_nodes")
moved refcount_set inside the critical section, which means there is
no longer a memory barrier between setting the refcount and setting
btrfs_inode->delayed_node.
Without that barrier, the stores to node->refs and
btrfs_inode->delayed_node may become visible out of order. Another
thread can then read btrfs_inode->delayed_node and attempt to
increment a refcount that hasn't been set yet, leading to a
refcounting bug and a use-after-free warning.
The fix is to move refcount_set back to where it was to take
advantage of the implicit memory barrier provided by lock
acquisition.
Because the allocations now happen outside of the lock's critical
section, t
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from linux. Update linux_kernel to the latest patched version. 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.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| linux | linux_kernel | >= 6.18, < 6.18.6 | Affected |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2025-71159?
CVE-2025-71159 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting linux linux_kernel. It was published on January 23, 2026 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).
How severe is CVE-2025-71159?
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-2025-71159?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from linux. Update linux_kernel to the latest patched version. 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-2025-71159?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2025-71159 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
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