CVE-2025-21717

CVE-2025-21717 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux Linux Kernel with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.1. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-125.

Key facts

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/mlx5e: add missing cpu_to_node to kvzalloc_node in mlx5e_open_xdpredirect_sq kvzalloc_node is not doing a runtime check on the node argument (__alloc_pages_node_noprof does have a VM_BUG_ON, but it expands to nothing on !CONFIG_DEBUG_VM builds), so doing any ethtool/netlink operation that calls mlx5e_open on a CPU that's larger that MAX_NUMNODES triggers OOB access and panic (see the trace below). Add missing cpu_to_node call to convert cpu id to node id. [ 165.427394] mlx5_core 0000:5c:00.0 beth1: Link up [ 166.479327] BUG: unable to handle page fault for address: 0000000800000010 [ 166.494592] #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode [ 166.505995] #PF: error_code(0x0000) - not-present page ... [ 166.816958] Call Trace: [ 166.822380] <TASK> [ 166.827034] ? __die_body+0x64/0xb0 [ 166.834774] ? page_fault_oops+0x2cd/0x3f0 [ 166.843862] ? exc_page_fault+0x63/0x130 [ 166.852564] ? asm_exc_page_fault+0x22/0x30 [ 166.861843] ? __kvmalloc_node_noprof+0x43/0xd0 [ 166.871897] ? get_partial_node+0x1c/0x320 [ 166.880983] ? deactivate_slab+0x269/0x2b0 [ 166.890069] ___slab_alloc+0x521/0xa90 [ 166.898389] ? __kvmalloc_node_noprof+0x43/0xd0 [ 166.908442] __kmalloc_node_noprof+0x216/0x3f0 [ 166.918302] ? __kvmalloc_node_noprof+0x43/0xd0 [ 166.928354] __kvmalloc_node_noprof+0x43/0xd0 [ 166.938021] mlx5e_open_channels+0x5e2/0xc00 [ 166.947496] mlx5e_open_locked+0x3e/0xf0 [ 166.956201] mlx5e_open+0x23/0x50 [ 166.963551] __dev_open+0x114/0x1c0 [ 166.971292] __dev_change_flags+0xa2/0x1b0 [ 166.980378] dev_change_flags+0x21/0x60 [ 166.988887] do_setlink+0x38d/0xf20 [ 166.996628] ? ep_poll_callback+0x1b9/0x240 [ 167.005910] ? __nla_validate_parse.llvm.10713395753544950386+0x80/0xd70 [ 167.020782] ? __wake_up_sync_key+0x52/0x80 [ 167.030066] ? __mutex_lock+0xff/0x550 [ 167.038382] ? security_capable+0x50/0x90 [ 167.047279] rtnl_setlink+0x1c9/0x210 [ 167.055403] ? ep_poll_callback+0x1b9/0x240 [ 167.064684] ? security_capable+0x50/0x90 [ 167.073579] rtnetlink_rcv_msg+0x2f9/0x310 [ 167.082667] ? rtnetlink_bind+0x30/0x30 [ 167.091173] netlink_rcv_skb+0xb1/0xe0 [ 167.099492] netlink_unicast+0x20f/0x2e0 [ 167.108191] netlink_sendmsg+0x389/0x420 [ 167.116896] __sys_sendto+0x158/0x1c0 [ 167.125024] __x64_sys_sendto+0x22/0x30 [ 167.133534] do_syscall_64+0x63/0x130 [ 167.141657] ? __irq_exit_rcu.llvm.17843942359718260576+0x52/0xd0 [ 167.155181] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x4b/0x53

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2025-21717?
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/mlx5e: add missing cpu_to_node to kvzalloc_node in mlx5e_open_xdpredirect_sq kvzalloc_node is not doing a runtime check on the node argument (__alloc_pages_node_noprof does have a VM_BUG_ON, but it expands to nothing on !CONFIG_DEBUG_VM builds), so doing any ethtool/netlink operation that calls mlx5e_open on a CPU that's larger that MAX_NUMNODES triggers OOB access and panic (see the trace below). Add missing cpu_to_node call to convert cpu id to node id. [ 165.427394] mlx5_core 0000:5c:00.0 beth1: Link up [ 166.479327] BUG: unable to handle page fault for address: 0000000800000010 [ 166.494592] #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode [ 166.505995] #PF: error_code(0x0000) - not-present page ... [ 166.816958] Call Trace: [ 166.822380] <TASK> [ 166.827034] ? __die_body+0x64/0xb0 [ 166.834774] ? page_fault_oops+0x2cd/0x3f0 [ 166.843862] ? exc_page_fault+0x63/0x130 [ 166.852564] ? asm_exc_page_fault+0x22/0x30 [ 166.861843] ? __kvmalloc_node_noprof+0x43/0xd0 [ 166.871897] ? get_partial_node+0x1c/0x320 [ 166.880983] ? deactivate_slab+0x269/0x2b0 [ 166.890069] ___slab_alloc+0x521/0xa90 [ 166.898389] ? __kvmalloc_node_noprof+0x43/0xd0 [ 166.908442] __kmalloc_node_noprof+0x216/0x3f0 [ 166.918302] ? __kvmalloc_node_noprof+0x43/0xd0 [ 166.928354] __kvmalloc_node_noprof+0x43/0xd0 [ 166.938021] mlx5e_open_channels+0x5e2/0xc00 [ 166.947496] mlx5e_open_locked+0x3e/0xf0 [ 166.956201] mlx5e_open+0x23/0x50 [ 166.963551] __dev_open+0x114/0x1c0 [ 166.971292] __dev_change_flags+0xa2/0x1b0 [ 166.980378] dev_change_flags+0x21/0x60 [ 166.988887] do_setlink+0x38d/0xf20 [ 166.996628] ? ep_poll_callback+0x1b9/0x240 [ 167.005910] ? __nla_validate_parse.llvm.10713395753544950386+0x80/0xd70 [ 167.020782] ? __wake_up_sync_key+0x52/0x80 [ 167.030066] ? __mutex_lock+0xff/0x550 [ 167.038382] ? security_capable+0x50/0x90 [ 167.047279] rtnl_setlink+0x1c9/0x210 [ 167.055403] ? ep_poll_callback+0x1b9/0x240 [ 167.064684] ? security_capable+0x50/0x90 [ 167.073579] rtnetlink_rcv_msg+0x2f9/0x310 [ 167.082667] ? rtnetlink_bind+0x30/0x30 [ 167.091173] netlink_rcv_skb+0xb1/0xe0 [ 167.099492] netlink_unicast+0x20f/0x2e0 [ 167.108191] netlink_sendmsg+0x389/0x420 [ 167.116896] __sys_sendto+0x158/0x1c0 [ 167.125024] __x64_sys_sendto+0x22/0x30 [ 167.133534] do_syscall_64+0x63/0x130 [ 167.141657] ? __irq_exit_rcu.llvm.17843942359718260576+0x52/0xd0 [ 167.155181] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x4b/0x53
How severe is CVE-2025-21717?
CVE-2025-21717 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.1, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2025-21717 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (5th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2025-21717?
CVE-2025-21717 affects Linux Linux Kernel. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2025-21717?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
Does CVE-2025-21717 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
Yes. CVE-2025-21717 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2025-5251.
When was CVE-2025-21717 published?
CVE-2025-21717 was published on 2025-02-27 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

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