How severe is CVE-2025-21969?

CVE-2025-21969 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, 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 high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2025-21969 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (8th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2025-21969?

CVE-2025-21969 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-2025-21969?

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-2025-21969 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?

Yes. CVE-2025-21969 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2025-9351.

When was CVE-2025-21969 published?

CVE-2025-21969 was published on 2025-04-01 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2025-21969

CVE-2025-21969 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux Linux Kernel with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8. 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-416.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.8)
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (8th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2025-9351
Weakness: CWE-416
Affected product: Linux Linux Kernel
Published: 2025-04-01
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Bluetooth: L2CAP: Fix slab-use-after-free Read in l2cap_send_cmd After the hci sync command releases l2cap_conn, the hci receive data work queue references the released l2cap_conn when sending to the upper layer. Add hci dev lock to the hci receive data work queue to synchronize the two. [1] BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in l2cap_send_cmd+0x187/0x8d0 net/bluetooth/l2cap_core.c:954 Read of size 8 at addr ffff8880271a4000 by task kworker/u9:2/5837 CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 5837 Comm: kworker/u9:2 Not tainted 6.13.0-rc5-syzkaller-00163-gab75170520d4 #0 Hardware name: Google Google Compute Engine/Google Compute Engine, BIOS Google 09/13/2024 Workqueue: hci1 hci_rx_work Call Trace: <TASK> __dump_stack lib/dump_stack.c:94 [inline] dump_stack_lvl+0x241/0x360 lib/dump_stack.c:120 print_address_description mm/kasan/report.c:378 [inline] print_report+0x169/0x550 mm/kasan/report.c:489 kasan_report+0x143/0x180 mm/kasan/report.c:602 l2cap_build_cmd net/bluetooth/l2cap_core.c:2964 [inline] l2cap_send_cmd+0x187/0x8d0 net/bluetooth/l2cap_core.c:954 l2cap_sig_send_rej net/bluetooth/l2cap_core.c:5502 [inline] l2cap_sig_channel net/bluetooth/l2cap_core.c:5538 [inline] l2cap_recv_frame+0x221f/0x10db0 net/bluetooth/l2cap_core.c:6817 hci_acldata_packet net/bluetooth/hci_core.c:3797 [inline] hci_rx_work+0x508/0xdb0 net/bluetooth/hci_core.c:4040 process_one_work kernel/workqueue.c:3229 [inline] process_scheduled_works+0xa66/0x1840 kernel/workqueue.c:3310 worker_thread+0x870/0xd30 kernel/workqueue.c:3391 kthread+0x2f0/0x390 kernel/kthread.c:389 ret_from_fork+0x4b/0x80 arch/x86/kernel/process.c:147 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:244 </TASK> Allocated by task 5837: kasan_save_stack mm/kasan/common.c:47 [inline] kasan_save_track+0x3f/0x80 mm/kasan/common.c:68 poison_kmalloc_redzone mm/kasan/common.c:377 [inline] __kasan_kmalloc+0x98/0xb0 mm/kasan/common.c:394 kasan_kmalloc include/linux/kasan.h:260 [inline] __kmalloc_cache_noprof+0x243/0x390 mm/slub.c:4329 kmalloc_noprof include/linux/slab.h:901 [inline] kzalloc_noprof include/linux/slab.h:1037 [inline] l2cap_conn_add+0xa9/0x8e0 net/bluetooth/l2cap_core.c:6860 l2cap_connect_cfm+0x115/0x1090 net/bluetooth/l2cap_core.c:7239 hci_connect_cfm include/net/bluetooth/hci_core.h:2057 [inline] hci_remote_features_evt+0x68e/0xac0 net/bluetooth/hci_event.c:3726 hci_event_func net/bluetooth/hci_event.c:7473 [inline] hci_event_packet+0xac2/0x1540 net/bluetooth/hci_event.c:7525 hci_rx_work+0x3f3/0xdb0 net/bluetooth/hci_core.c:4035 process_one_work kernel/workqueue.c:3229 [inline] process_scheduled_works+0xa66/0x1840 kernel/workqueue.c:3310 worker_thread+0x870/0xd30 kernel/workqueue.c:3391 kthread+0x2f0/0x390 kernel/kthread.c:389 ret_from_fork+0x4b/0x80 arch/x86/kernel/process.c:147 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:244 Freed by task 54: kasan_save_stack mm/kasan/common.c:47 [inline] kasan_save_track+0x3f/0x80 mm/kasan/common.c:68 kasan_save_free_info+0x40/0x50 mm/kasan/generic.c:582 poison_slab_object mm/kasan/common.c:247 [inline] __kasan_slab_free+0x59/0x70 mm/kasan/common.c:264 kasan_slab_free include/linux/kasan.h:233 [inline] slab_free_hook mm/slub.c:2353 [inline] slab_free mm/slub.c:4613 [inline] kfree+0x196/0x430 mm/slub.c:4761 l2cap_connect_cfm+0xcc/0x1090 net/bluetooth/l2cap_core.c:7235 hci_connect_cfm include/net/bluetooth/hci_core.h:2057 [inline] hci_conn_failed+0x287/0x400 net/bluetooth/hci_conn.c:1266 hci_abort_conn_sync+0x56c/0x11f0 net/bluetooth/hci_sync.c:5603 hci_cmd_sync_work+0x22b/0x400 net/bluetooth/hci_sync.c:332 process_one_work kernel/workqueue.c:3229 [inline] process_scheduled_works+0xa66/0x1840 kernel/workqueue.c:3310 worker_thread+0x870/0xd30 kernel/workqueue.c:3391 kthread+0x2f0/0x390 kernel/kthread.c:389 ret_from_fork+0x4b/0x80 arch/x86/kernel/process.c:147 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 arch/x86/entry/entr ---truncated---

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2025-21969?: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Bluetooth: L2CAP: Fix slab-use-after-free Read in l2cap_send_cmd After the hci sync command releases l2cap_conn, the hci receive data work queue references the released l2cap_conn when sending to the upper layer. Add hci dev lock to the hci receive data work queue to synchronize the two. [1] BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in l2cap_send_cmd+0x187/0x8d0 net/bluetooth/l2cap_core.c:954 Read of size 8 at addr ffff8880271a4000 by task kworker/u9:2/5837 CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 5837 Comm: kworker/u9:2 Not tainted 6.13.0-rc5-syzkaller-00163-gab75170520d4 #0 Hardware name: Google Google Compute Engine/Google Compute Engine, BIOS Google 09/13/2024 Workqueue: hci1 hci_rx_work Call Trace: <TASK> __dump_stack lib/dump_stack.c:94 [inline] dump_stack_lvl+0x241/0x360 lib/dump_stack.c:120 print_address_description mm/kasan/report.c:378 [inline] print_report+0x169/0x550 mm/kasan/report.c:489 kasan_report+0x143/0x180 mm/kasan/report.c:602 l2cap_build_cmd net/bluetooth/l2cap_core.c:2964 [inline] l2cap_send_cmd+0x187/0x8d0 net/bluetooth/l2cap_core.c:954 l2cap_sig_send_rej net/bluetooth/l2cap_core.c:5502 [inline] l2cap_sig_channel net/bluetooth/l2cap_core.c:5538 [inline] l2cap_recv_frame+0x221f/0x10db0 net/bluetooth/l2cap_core.c:6817 hci_acldata_packet net/bluetooth/hci_core.c:3797 [inline] hci_rx_work+0x508/0xdb0 net/bluetooth/hci_core.c:4040 process_one_work kernel/workqueue.c:3229 [inline] process_scheduled_works+0xa66/0x1840 kernel/workqueue.c:3310 worker_thread+0x870/0xd30 kernel/workqueue.c:3391 kthread+0x2f0/0x390 kernel/kthread.c:389 ret_from_fork+0x4b/0x80 arch/x86/kernel/process.c:147 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:244 </TASK> Allocated by task 5837: kasan_save_stack mm/kasan/common.c:47 [inline] kasan_save_track+0x3f/0x80 mm/kasan/common.c:68 poison_kmalloc_redzone mm/kasan/common.c:377 [inline] __kasan_kmalloc+0x98/0xb0 mm/kasan/common.c:394 kasan_kmalloc include/linux/kasan.h:260 [inline] __kmalloc_cache_noprof+0x243/0x390 mm/slub.c:4329 kmalloc_noprof include/linux/slab.h:901 [inline] kzalloc_noprof include/linux/slab.h:1037 [inline] l2cap_conn_add+0xa9/0x8e0 net/bluetooth/l2cap_core.c:6860 l2cap_connect_cfm+0x115/0x1090 net/bluetooth/l2cap_core.c:7239 hci_connect_cfm include/net/bluetooth/hci_core.h:2057 [inline] hci_remote_features_evt+0x68e/0xac0 net/bluetooth/hci_event.c:3726 hci_event_func net/bluetooth/hci_event.c:7473 [inline] hci_event_packet+0xac2/0x1540 net/bluetooth/hci_event.c:7525 hci_rx_work+0x3f3/0xdb0 net/bluetooth/hci_core.c:4035 process_one_work kernel/workqueue.c:3229 [inline] process_scheduled_works+0xa66/0x1840 kernel/workqueue.c:3310 worker_thread+0x870/0xd30 kernel/workqueue.c:3391 kthread+0x2f0/0x390 kernel/kthread.c:389 ret_from_fork+0x4b/0x80 arch/x86/kernel/process.c:147 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:244 Freed by task 54: kasan_save_stack mm/kasan/common.c:47 [inline] kasan_save_track+0x3f/0x80 mm/kasan/common.c:68 kasan_save_free_info+0x40/0x50 mm/kasan/generic.c:582 poison_slab_object mm/kasan/common.c:247 [inline] __kasan_slab_free+0x59/0x70 mm/kasan/common.c:264 kasan_slab_free include/linux/kasan.h:233 [inline] slab_free_hook mm/slub.c:2353 [inline] slab_free mm/slub.c:4613 [inline] kfree+0x196/0x430 mm/slub.c:4761 l2cap_connect_cfm+0xcc/0x1090 net/bluetooth/l2cap_core.c:7235 hci_connect_cfm include/net/bluetooth/hci_core.h:2057 [inline] hci_conn_failed+0x287/0x400 net/bluetooth/hci_conn.c:1266 hci_abort_conn_sync+0x56c/0x11f0 net/bluetooth/hci_sync.c:5603 hci_cmd_sync_work+0x22b/0x400 net/bluetooth/hci_sync.c:332 process_one_work kernel/workqueue.c:3229 [inline] process_scheduled_works+0xa66/0x1840 kernel/workqueue.c:3310 worker_thread+0x870/0xd30 kernel/workqueue.c:3391 kthread+0x2f0/0x390 kernel/kthread.c:389 ret_from_fork+0x4b/0x80 arch/x86/kernel/process.c:147 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 arch/x86/entry/entr ---truncated---
How severe is CVE-2025-21969?: CVE-2025-21969 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, 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 high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2025-21969 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (8th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2025-21969?: CVE-2025-21969 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-2025-21969?: 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-2025-21969 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?: Yes. CVE-2025-21969 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2025-9351.
When was CVE-2025-21969 published?: CVE-2025-21969 was published on 2025-04-01 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

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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