// For flags

CVE-2025-71109

MIPS: ftrace: Fix memory corruption when kernel is located beyond 32 bits

Severity Score

7.8
*CVSS v3

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

-
*SSVC
Descriptions

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: MIPS: ftrace: Fix memory corruption when kernel is located beyond 32 bits Since commit e424054000878 ("MIPS: Tracing: Reduce the overhead of
dynamic Function Tracer"), the macro UASM_i_LA_mostly has been used,
and this macro can generate more than 2 instructions. At the same
time, the code in ftrace assumes that no more than 2 instructions can
be generated, which is why it stores them in an int[2] array. However,
as previously noted, the macro UASM_i_LA_mostly (and now UASM_i_LA)
causes a buffer overflow when _mcount is beyond 32 bits. This leads to
corruption of the variables located in the __read_mostly section. This corruption was observed because the variable
__cpu_primary_thread_mask was corrupted, causing a hang very early
during boot. This fix prevents the corruption by avoiding the generation of
instructions if they could exceed 2 instructions in
length. Fortunately, insn_la_mcount is only used if the instrumented
code is located outside the kernel code section, so dynamic ftrace can
still be used, albeit in a more limited scope. This is still
preferable to corrupting memory and/or crashing the kernel.

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: MIPS: ftrace: Fix memory corruption when kernel is located beyond 32 bits Since commit e424054000878 ("MIPS: Tracing: Reduce the overhead of dynamic Function Tracer"), the macro UASM_i_LA_mostly has been used, and this macro can generate more than 2 instructions. At the same time, the code in ftrace assumes that no more than 2 instructions can be generated, which is why it stores them in an int[2] array. However, as previously noted, the macro UASM_i_LA_mostly (and now UASM_i_LA) causes a buffer overflow when _mcount is beyond 32 bits. This leads to corruption of the variables located in the __read_mostly section. This corruption was observed because the variable __cpu_primary_thread_mask was corrupted, causing a hang very early during boot. This fix prevents the corruption by avoiding the generation of instructions if they could exceed 2 instructions in length. Fortunately, insn_la_mcount is only used if the instrumented code is located outside the kernel code section, so dynamic ftrace can still be used, albeit in a more limited scope. This is still preferable to corrupting memory and/or crashing the kernel.

*Credits: N/A
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Authentication
None
Confidentiality
Complete
Integrity
Complete
Availability
Complete
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:-
Exploitation
-
Automatable
-
Tech. Impact
-
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2026-01-13 CVE Reserved
  • 2026-01-14 CVE Published
  • 2026-01-15 CVE Updated
  • ---------- EPSS Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
CAPEC
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
>= 2.6.35 < 6.12.64
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 2.6.35 < 6.12.64"
en
Affected
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
>= 2.6.35 < 6.18.3
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 2.6.35 < 6.18.3"
en
Affected
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
>= 2.6.35 < 6.19-rc1
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 2.6.35 < 6.19-rc1"
en
Affected