Executive brief
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's digital video broadcasting (vidtv) driver could allow a local user to crash the system or potentially execute unauthorized code. The issue occurs when the system incorrectly manages memory while setting up virtual television channels. This could lead to a service outage or a compromise of the operating system's integrity.
Technical details
A use-after-free (UAF) and double-free vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel's vidtv test driver within 'drivers/media/test-drivers/vidtv/vidtv_channel.c'. The function vidtv_channel_si_init() transfers ownership of memory for programs, services, and events to PAT/SDT/EIT tables but fails to nullify the local pointers. If a subsequent function call fails, the error handling path attempts to free these pointers again, leading to a double-free or UAF condition. This can be exploited by a local attacker with low privileges to cause a denial of service (system crash) or potentially achieve privilege escalation. Patches have been released across multiple stable kernel branches (5.10.y, 5.15.y, 6.1.y, 6.6.y, 6.12.y).
Affected products
- Linux Linux Kernel 5.10 to 5.10.248, 5.15.198, 6.1.160, 6.6.120, 6.12.64
Timeline
- 2025-09-05: other: Vulnerability fixed in upstream source code
- 2026-01-13: disclosed: CVE-2025-68808 published
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/12ab6ebb37789b84073e83e4d9b14a5e0d133323
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/30f4d4e5224a9e44e9ceb3956489462319d804ce
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3caa18d35f1dabe85a3dd31bc387f391ac9f9b4e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/98aabfe2d79f74613abc2b0b1cef08f97eaf5322
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a69c7fd603bf5ad93177394fbd9711922ee81032
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c342e294dac4988c8ada759b2f057246e48c5108
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fb9bd6d8d314b748e946ed6555eb4a956ee8c4d8