CVE-2025-21852

What it is

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: Add rx_skb of kfree_skb to raw_tp_null_args[]. Yan Zhai reported a BPF prog could trigger a null-ptr-deref [0] in trace_kfree_skb if the prog does not check if rx_sk is NULL. Commit c53795d48ee8 ("net: add rx_sk to trace_kfree_skb") added rx_sk to trace_kfree_skb, but rx_sk is optional and could be NULL. Let's add kfree_skb to raw_tp_null_args[] to let the BPF verifier validate such a prog and prevent the issue. Now we fail to load such a prog: libbpf: prog 'drop': -- BEGIN PROG LOAD LOG -- 0: R1=ctx() R10=fp0 ; int BPF_PROG(drop, struct sk_buff *skb, void *location, @ kfree_skb_sk_null.bpf.c:21 0: (79) r3 = *(u64 *)(r1 +24) func 'kfree_skb' arg3 has btf_id 5253 type STRUCT 'sock' 1: R1=ctx() R3_w=trusted_ptr_or_null_sock(id=1) ; bpf_printk("sk: %d, %d\n", sk, sk->__sk_common.skc_family); @ kfree_skb_sk_null.bpf.c:24 1: (69) r4 = *(u16 *)(r3 +16) R3 invalid mem access 'trusted_ptr_or_null_' processed 2 insns (limit 1000000) max_states_per_insn 0 total_states 0 peak_states 0 mark_read 0 -- END PROG LOAD LOG -- Note this fix requires commit 838a10bd2ebf ("bpf: Augment raw_tp arguments with PTR_MAYBE_NULL"). [0]: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000010 PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode PF: error_code(0x0000) - not-present page PGD 0 P4D 0 PREEMPT SMP RIP: 0010:bpf_prog_5e21a6db8fcff1aa_drop+0x10/0x2d Call Trace: <TASK> ? __die+0x1f/0x60 ? page_fault_oops+0x148/0x420 ? search_bpf_extables+0x5b/0x70 ? fixup_exception+0x27/0x2c0 ? exc_page_fault+0x75/0x170 ? asm_exc_page_fault+0x22/0x30 ? bpf_prog_5e21a6db8fcff1aa_drop+0x10/0x2d bpf_trace_run4+0x68/0xd0 ? unix_stream_connect+0x1f4/0x6f0 sk_skb_reason_drop+0x90/0x120 unix_stream_connect+0x1f4/0x6f0 __sys_connect+0x7f/0xb0 __x64_sys_connect+0x14/0x20 do_syscall_64+0x47/0xc30 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x4b/0x53

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of 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

1. 2025-03-12 10:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-17 08:44 UTC 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: 5.5 MEDIUM (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2025-03-12 10:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 08:44 UTC

Exploit probability

0.2% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-476 · NULL pointer dereference

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Linux Kernel < 6.12.17
• Linux Kernel < 6.13.5
• Linux Kernel 6.14

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 5.5

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

None

Integrity

None

Availability

High

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-2025-21852.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2025-21852. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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