CVE-2025-21779
CVE-2025-21779 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux Linux Kernel with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5. 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-476.
Key facts
- Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 5.5)
- EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (13th percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2025-5138
- Weakness: CWE-476
- Affected product: Linux Linux Kernel
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: x86: Reject Hyper-V's SEND_IPI hypercalls if local APIC isn't in-kernel Advertise support for Hyper-V's SEND_IPI and SEND_IPI_EX hypercalls if and only if the local API is emulated/virtualized by KVM, and explicitly reject said hypercalls if the local APIC is emulated in userspace, i.e. don't rely on userspace to opt-in to KVM_CAP_HYPERV_ENFORCE_CPUID. Rejecting SEND_IPI and SEND_IPI_EX fixes a NULL-pointer dereference if Hyper-V enlightenments are exposed to the guest without an in-kernel local APIC: dump_stack+0xbe/0xfd __kasan_report.cold+0x34/0x84 kasan_report+0x3a/0x50 __apic_accept_irq+0x3a/0x5c0 kvm_hv_send_ipi.isra.0+0x34e/0x820 kvm_hv_hypercall+0x8d9/0x9d0 kvm_emulate_hypercall+0x506/0x7e0 __vmx_handle_exit+0x283/0xb60 vmx_handle_exit+0x1d/0xd0 vcpu_enter_guest+0x16b0/0x24c0 vcpu_run+0xc0/0x550 kvm_arch_vcpu_ioctl_run+0x170/0x6d0 kvm_vcpu_ioctl+0x413/0xb20 __se_sys_ioctl+0x111/0x160 do_syscal1_64+0x30/0x40 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x67/0xd1 Note, checking the sending vCPU is sufficient, as the per-VM irqchip_mode can't be modified after vCPUs are created, i.e. if one vCPU has an in-kernel local APIC, then all vCPUs have an in-kernel local APIC.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2025-21779?
- In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: x86: Reject Hyper-V's SEND_IPI hypercalls if local APIC isn't in-kernel Advertise support for Hyper-V's SEND_IPI and SEND_IPI_EX hypercalls if and only if the local API is emulated/virtualized by KVM, and explicitly reject said hypercalls if the local APIC is emulated in userspace, i.e. don't rely on userspace to opt-in to KVM_CAP_HYPERV_ENFORCE_CPUID. Rejecting SEND_IPI and SEND_IPI_EX fixes a NULL-pointer dereference if Hyper-V enlightenments are exposed to the guest without an in-kernel local APIC: dump_stack+0xbe/0xfd __kasan_report.cold+0x34/0x84 kasan_report+0x3a/0x50 __apic_accept_irq+0x3a/0x5c0 kvm_hv_send_ipi.isra.0+0x34e/0x820 kvm_hv_hypercall+0x8d9/0x9d0 kvm_emulate_hypercall+0x506/0x7e0 __vmx_handle_exit+0x283/0xb60 vmx_handle_exit+0x1d/0xd0 vcpu_enter_guest+0x16b0/0x24c0 vcpu_run+0xc0/0x550 kvm_arch_vcpu_ioctl_run+0x170/0x6d0 kvm_vcpu_ioctl+0x413/0xb20 __se_sys_ioctl+0x111/0x160 do_syscal1_64+0x30/0x40 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x67/0xd1 Note, checking the sending vCPU is sufficient, as the per-VM irqchip_mode can't be modified after vCPUs are created, i.e. if one vCPU has an in-kernel local APIC, then all vCPUs have an in-kernel local APIC.
- How severe is CVE-2025-21779?
- CVE-2025-21779 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
- Is CVE-2025-21779 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (13th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- What products are affected by CVE-2025-21779?
- CVE-2025-21779 primarily affects Linux Linux Kernel. In total, 3 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2025-21779?
- Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
- Does CVE-2025-21779 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
- Yes. CVE-2025-21779 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2025-5138.
- When was CVE-2025-21779 published?
- CVE-2025-21779 was published on 2025-02-27 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/45fa526b0f5a34492ed0536c3cdf88b78380e4de
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5393cf22312418262679eaadb130d608c75fe690
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/61224533f2b61e252b03e214195d27d64b22989a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/874ff13c73c45ecb38cb82191e8c1d523f0dc81b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a8de7f100bb5989d9c3627d3a223ee1c863f3b69
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/aca8be4403fb90db7adaf63830e27ebe787a76e8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ca29f58ca374c40a0e69c5306fc5c940a0069074
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/03/msg00028.html
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/05/msg00030.html
Affected products (3)
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.14:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.14:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
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