CVE-2025-21702: linux
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2025-21702 is a high (CVSS 7.8) vulnerability in linux. EPSS estimates a 0.28% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 19.4% of scored vulnerabilities.
Advisory lineage
Upstream 0 · Downstream 117 · Related 112Showing 100 of 117. Use Open JSON for the complete list.
Timeline
- 18-02-2025PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 15-10-2026Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: pfifo_tail_enqueue: Drop new packet when sch->limit == 0 Expected behaviour: In case we reach scheduler's limit, pfifo_tail_enqueue() will drop a packet in scheduler's queue and decrease scheduler's qlen by one. Then, pfifo_tail_enqueue() enqueue new packet and increase scheduler's qlen by one. Finally, pfifo_tail_enqueue() return `NET_XMIT_CN` status code. Weird behaviour: In case we set `sch->limit == 0` and trigger pfifo_tail_enqueue() on a scheduler that has no packet, the 'drop a packet' step will do nothing. This means the scheduler's qlen still has value equal 0. Then, we continue to enqueue new packet and increase scheduler's qlen by one. In summary, we can leverage pfifo_tail_enqueue() to increase qlen by one and return `NET_XMIT_CN` status code. The problem is: Let's say we have two qdiscs: Qdisc_A and Qdisc_B. - Qdisc_A's type must have '->graft()' function to create parent/child relationship. Let's say Qdisc_A's type is `hfsc`. Enqueue packet to this qdisc will trigger `hfsc_enqueue`. - Qdisc_B's type is pfifo_head_drop. Enqueue packet to this qdisc will trigger `pfifo_tail_enqueue`. - Qdisc_B is configured to have `sch->limit == 0`. - Qdisc_A is configured to route the enqueued's packet to Qdisc_B. Enqueue packet through Qdisc_A will lead to: - hfsc_enqueue(Qdisc_A) -> pfifo_tail_enqueue(Qdisc_B) - Qdisc_B->q.qlen += 1 - pfifo_tail_enqueue() return `NET_XMIT_CN` - hfsc_enqueue() check for `NET_XMIT_SUCCESS` and see `NET_XMIT_CN` => hfsc_enqueue() don't increase qlen of Qdisc_A. The whole process lead to a situation where Qdisc_A->q.qlen == 0 and Qdisc_B->q.qlen == 1. Replace 'hfsc' with other type (for example: 'drr') still lead to the same problem. This violate the design where parent's qlen should equal to the sum of its childrens'qlen. Bug impact: This issue can be used for user->kernel privilege escalation when it is reachable.
CVSS metrics
4 scores · 4 sources · 1 version- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated7.8HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- OSV · DebianEcosystem advisory · calculated7.0HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HDiffers
- NVDNIST7.0HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HDiffers
EPSS trend
Probability
0.28%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
19%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
+0.01 pp
From 0.27% on 18-09-2026
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogsNot in any of the 3 tracked catalogs.
Public exploits
0 foundNo public exploits indexed.
Weaknesses
CWE · root causeNo weakness data has been published for this record.
Affected systems
Ubuntu136 products
- linuxAll versions (No fix recorded) | < 4.4.0-267.301 | < 4.15.0-236.248 | < 5.4.0-214.234 | < 5.15.0-138.148 | < 6.8.0-58.60
- linux-allwinner-5.19All versions (No fix recorded)
- linux-aws< 4.4.0-1142.148 | < 4.4.0-1180.195 | < 4.15.0-1179.192 | < 5.4.0-1144.154 | < 5.15.0-1082.89 | < 6.8.0-1027.29
- linux-aws-5.0All versions (No fix recorded)
- linux-aws-5.11All versions (No fix recorded)
Linux2 products
- linux≥ 57dbb2d83d100ea601c54fe129bfde0678db5dee, < 78285b53266d6d51fa4ff504a23df03852eba84e | ≥ 57dbb2d83d100ea601c54fe129bfde0678db5dee, < 7a9723ec27aff5674f1fd4934608937f1d650980 | ≥ 57dbb2d83d100ea601c54fe129bfde0678db5dee, < a56a6e8589a9b98d8171611fbcc1e45a15fd2455 | ≥ 57dbb2d83d100ea601c54fe129bfde0678db5dee, < 020ecb76812a0526f4130ab5aeb6dc7c773e7ab9 | ≥ 57dbb2d83d100ea601c54fe129bfde0678db5dee, < 79a955ea4a2e5ddf4a36328959de0de496419888 | ≥ 57dbb2d83d100ea601c54fe129bfde0678db5dee, < e40cb34b7f247fe2e366fd192700d1b4f38196ca | ≥ 57dbb2d83d100ea601c54fe129bfde0678db5dee, < b6a079c3b6f95378f26e2aeda520cb3176f7067b | ≥ 57dbb2d83d100ea601c54fe129bfde0678db5dee, < 647cef20e649c576dff271e018d5d15d998b629d | 2.6.34
- linux_kernel≥ 2.6.34, < 5.4.291 | ≥ 5.5, < 5.10.235 | ≥ 5.11, < 5.15.179 | ≥ 5.16, < 6.1.130 | ≥ 6.2, < 6.6.83 | ≥ 6.7, < 6.12.14 | ≥ 6.13, < 6.13.3 | 6.14:rc1
Debian1 product
- linux< 6.1.133-1 | < 6.12.15-1
3 vendors · 139 products