CVE-2025-21664
What it is
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: dm thin: make get_first_thin use rcu-safe list first function The documentation in rculist.h explains the absence of list_empty_rcu() and cautions programmers against relying on a list_empty() -> list_first() sequence in RCU safe code. This is because each of these functions performs its own READ_ONCE() of the list head. This can lead to a situation where the list_empty() sees a valid list entry, but the subsequent list_first() sees a different view of list head state after a modification. In the case of dm-thin, this author had a production box crash from a GP fault in the process_deferred_bios path. This function saw a valid list head in get_first_thin() but when it subsequently dereferenced that and turned it into a thin_c, it got the inside of the struct pool, since the list was now empty and referring to itself. The kernel on which this occurred printed both a warning about a refcount_t being saturated, and a UBSAN error for an out-of-bounds cpuid access in the queued spinlock, prior to the fault itself. When the resulting kdump was examined, it was possible to see another thread patiently waiting in thin_dtr's synchronize_rcu. The thin_dtr call managed to pull the thin_c out of the active thins list (and have it be the last entry in the active_thins list) at just the wrong moment which lead to this crash. Fortunately, the fix here is straight forward. Switch get_first_thin() function to use list_first_or_null_rcu() which performs just a single READ_ONCE() and returns NULL if the list is already empty. This was run against the devicemapper test suite's thin-provisioning suites for delete and suspend and no regressions were observed.
At a glance
- Exploitability
- Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.
- Exploit odds
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).
- Fix
- A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.
Timeline
- PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
- Last updatedMost recent change to the record
Why it ranks here
- Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
- Exploit odds: 0.2% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
- Severity: 7.8 HIGH (CVSS).
- Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.
Details
- Published
- Last modified
- Exploit probability
- 0.2% · EPSS, next 30 days
- Record status
- Modified
Affected
- Linux Kernel < 5.4.290
- Linux Kernel < 5.10.234
- Linux Kernel < 5.15.177
- Linux Kernel < 6.1.125
- Linux Kernel < 6.6.72
- Linux Kernel < 6.12.10
- Linux Kernel 3.15
- Linux Kernel 6.13
Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 7.8
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Is it in your code?
Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.
Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2025-21664.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2025-21664. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.
Fix and advisories
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/12771050b6d059eea096993bf2001da9da9fddff
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6b305e98de0d225ccebfb225730a9f560d28ecb0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/802666a40c71a23542c43a3f87e3a2d0f4e8fe45
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/80f130bfad1dab93b95683fc39b87235682b8f72
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cbd0d5ecfa390ac29c5380200147d09c381b2ac6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cd30a3960433ec2db94b3689752fa3c5df44d649
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ec037fe8c0d0f6140e3d8a49c7b29cb5582160b8
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/12771050b6d059eea096993bf2001da9da9fddff
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6b305e98de0d225ccebfb225730a9f560d28ecb0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/802666a40c71a23542c43a3f87e3a2d0f4e8fe45
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/80f130bfad1dab93b95683fc39b87235682b8f72
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cbd0d5ecfa390ac29c5380200147d09c381b2ac6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cd30a3960433ec2db94b3689752fa3c5df44d649
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ec037fe8c0d0f6140e3d8a49c7b29cb5582160b8
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/03/msg00001.html
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/03/msg00002.html
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-265688.html