CVE-2025-21872
CVE-2025-21872 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.
Key facts
- Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 5.5)
- EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (9th percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2025-8497
- Affected product: Linux Linux Kernel
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: efi: Don't map the entire mokvar table to determine its size Currently, when validating the mokvar table, we (re)map the entire table on each iteration of the loop, adding space as we discover new entries. If the table grows over a certain size, this fails due to limitations of early_memmap(), and we get a failure and traceback: ------------[ cut here ]------------ WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 0 at mm/early_ioremap.c:139 __early_ioremap+0xef/0x220 ... Call Trace: <TASK> ? __early_ioremap+0xef/0x220 ? __warn.cold+0x93/0xfa ? __early_ioremap+0xef/0x220 ? report_bug+0xff/0x140 ? early_fixup_exception+0x5d/0xb0 ? early_idt_handler_common+0x2f/0x3a ? __early_ioremap+0xef/0x220 ? efi_mokvar_table_init+0xce/0x1d0 ? setup_arch+0x864/0xc10 ? start_kernel+0x6b/0xa10 ? x86_64_start_reservations+0x24/0x30 ? x86_64_start_kernel+0xed/0xf0 ? common_startup_64+0x13e/0x141 </TASK> ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- mokvar: Failed to map EFI MOKvar config table pa=0x7c4c3000, size=265187. Mapping the entire structure isn't actually necessary, as we don't ever need more than one entry header mapped at once. Changes efi_mokvar_table_init() to only map each entry header, not the entire table, when determining the table size. Since we're not mapping any data past the variable name, it also changes the code to enforce that each variable name is NUL terminated, rather than attempting to verify it in place.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2025-21872?
- In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: efi: Don't map the entire mokvar table to determine its size Currently, when validating the mokvar table, we (re)map the entire table on each iteration of the loop, adding space as we discover new entries. If the table grows over a certain size, this fails due to limitations of early_memmap(), and we get a failure and traceback: ------------[ cut here ]------------ WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 0 at mm/early_ioremap.c:139 __early_ioremap+0xef/0x220 ... Call Trace: <TASK> ? __early_ioremap+0xef/0x220 ? __warn.cold+0x93/0xfa ? __early_ioremap+0xef/0x220 ? report_bug+0xff/0x140 ? early_fixup_exception+0x5d/0xb0 ? early_idt_handler_common+0x2f/0x3a ? __early_ioremap+0xef/0x220 ? efi_mokvar_table_init+0xce/0x1d0 ? setup_arch+0x864/0xc10 ? start_kernel+0x6b/0xa10 ? x86_64_start_reservations+0x24/0x30 ? x86_64_start_kernel+0xed/0xf0 ? common_startup_64+0x13e/0x141 </TASK> ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- mokvar: Failed to map EFI MOKvar config table pa=0x7c4c3000, size=265187. Mapping the entire structure isn't actually necessary, as we don't ever need more than one entry header mapped at once. Changes efi_mokvar_table_init() to only map each entry header, not the entire table, when determining the table size. Since we're not mapping any data past the variable name, it also changes the code to enforce that each variable name is NUL terminated, rather than attempting to verify it in place.
- How severe is CVE-2025-21872?
- CVE-2025-21872 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-2025-21872 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (9th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- What products are affected by CVE-2025-21872?
- CVE-2025-21872 primarily affects Linux Linux Kernel. In total, 5 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2025-21872?
- Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
- Does CVE-2025-21872 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
- Yes. CVE-2025-21872 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2025-8497.
- When was CVE-2025-21872 published?
- CVE-2025-21872 was published on 2025-03-27 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2b90e7ace79774a3540ce569e000388f8d22c9e0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/46c0454ffb78ce9d3355a3cccac86383ea8ddd55
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/65f4aebb8127708ba668dd938e83b8558abfc5cd
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/97bd560b6cc4c26386a53b4881bf03e96f9ba03a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ea3f0b362dfe4ef885ef812bfaf4088176422c91
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/05/msg00030.html
Affected products (5)
- 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:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.14:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.14:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*
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