# CVE-2025-71162: Linux Kernel Tegra ADMA use-after-free in audio termination

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-71162-linux-kernel-tegra-adma-use-after-free-in-audio-termination  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-01-25. Updated: 2026-07-14  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2025-71162 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-01-25

A security vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel's Tegra ADMA driver, which manages audio data transfers for specific hardware. When audio playback is stopped or interrupted, a race condition can occur where the system attempts to access memory that has already been cleared. This could allow a local attacker to cause a system crash or potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or elevated privileges.

Technologies: [Linux Kernel](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/kernel), [Siemens SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/simatic-s7-1500-cpu-1518-4-pn-dp-mfp), [Siemens SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFP](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/simatic-s7-1500-cpu-1518f-4-pn-dp-mfp), [Siemens SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/siplus-s7-1500-cpu-1518-4-pn-dp-mfp). Vendors: [Linux](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/linux), [Siemens](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/siemens).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2025-71162 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2025-71162 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2025-71162?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 25 January 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Linux Kernel Tegra ADMA driver support introduced in f46b195799b5; Siemens SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP V3.1.6; Siemens SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFP V3.1.6; Siemens SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP V3.1.6.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2025-71162?** A patch was published on 2025-12-16: Merged into mainline kernel tree Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2025-71162 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2025-71162?** Check whether you run Linux Kernel, Siemens SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP, Siemens SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFP or one of the others listed at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A use-after-free vulnerability exists in the tegra-adma dmaengine driver due to a race condition between DMA termination and completion tasklets. When tegra_adma_terminate_all() is called (e.g., during audio XRUN conditions), it frees the DMA descriptor memory via kfree(). However, if a completion interrupt has already scheduled a tasklet, vchan_complete() may subsequently attempt to access that freed memory. The fix involves using vchan_terminate_vdesc() to mark descriptors as terminated and implementing a synchronization callback to ensure pending tasklets are killed before memory is released. This is a local vulnerability requiring low privileges to exploit.

## Affected products

- Linux Linux Kernel Tegra ADMA driver support introduced in f46b195799b5
- Siemens SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP V3.1.6
- Siemens SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFP V3.1.6
- Siemens SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP V3.1.6

## Timeline

- 2025-11-10: disclosed: Initial patch submitted by NVIDIA
- 2025-12-16: patched: Merged into mainline kernel tree
- 2026-01-25: advisory: NVD publication date

## References

- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2efd07a7c36949e6fa36a69183df24d368bf9e96](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2efd07a7c36949e6fa36a69183df24d368bf9e96)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/59cb421b0902fbef2b9512ae8ba198a20f26b41f](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/59cb421b0902fbef2b9512ae8ba198a20f26b41f)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5f8d1d66a952d0396671e1f21ff8127a4d14fb4e](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5f8d1d66a952d0396671e1f21ff8127a4d14fb4e)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/76992310f80776b4d1f7f8915f59b92883a3e44c](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/76992310f80776b4d1f7f8915f59b92883a3e44c)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ae3eed72de682ddbba507ed2d6b848c21a6b721e](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ae3eed72de682ddbba507ed2d6b848c21a6b721e)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/be655c3736b3546f39bc8116ffbf2a3b6cac96c4](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/be655c3736b3546f39bc8116ffbf2a3b6cac96c4)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cb2c9c4bb1322cc3c9984ad17db8cdd2663879ca](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cb2c9c4bb1322cc3c9984ad17db8cdd2663879ca)

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