CVE-2025-21973

CVE-2025-21973 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.

Key facts

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: eth: bnxt: fix kernel panic in the bnxt_get_queue_stats{rx | tx} When qstats-get operation is executed, callbacks of netdev_stats_ops are called. The bnxt_get_queue_stats{rx | tx} collect per-queue stats from sw_stats in the rings. But {rx | tx | cp}_ring are allocated when the interface is up. So, these rings are not allocated when the interface is down. The qstats-get is allowed even if the interface is down. However, the bnxt_get_queue_stats{rx | tx}() accesses cp_ring and tx_ring without null check. So, it needs to avoid accessing rings if the interface is down. Reproducer: ip link set $interface down ./cli.py --spec netdev.yaml --dump qstats-get OR ip link set $interface down python ./stats.py Splat looks like: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000 #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode #PF: error_code(0x0000) - not-present page PGD 1680fa067 P4D 1680fa067 PUD 16be3b067 PMD 0 Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP NOPTI CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 1495 Comm: python3 Not tainted 6.14.0-rc4+ #32 5cd0f999d5a15c574ac72b3e4b907341 Hardware name: ASUS System Product Name/PRIME Z690-P D4, BIOS 0603 11/01/2021 RIP: 0010:bnxt_get_queue_stats_rx+0xf/0x70 [bnxt_en] Code: c6 87 b5 18 00 00 02 eb a2 66 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 0f 1f 44 01 RSP: 0018:ffffabef43cdb7e0 EFLAGS: 00010282 RAX: 0000000000000000 RBX: ffffffffc04c8710 RCX: 0000000000000000 RDX: ffffabef43cdb858 RSI: 0000000000000000 RDI: ffff8d504e850000 RBP: ffff8d506c9f9c00 R08: 0000000000000004 R09: ffff8d506bcd901c R10: 0000000000000015 R11: ffff8d506bcd9000 R12: 0000000000000000 R13: ffffabef43cdb8c0 R14: ffff8d504e850000 R15: 0000000000000000 FS: 00007f2c5462b080(0000) GS:ffff8d575f600000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 0000000000000000 CR3: 0000000167fd0000 CR4: 00000000007506f0 PKRU: 55555554 Call Trace: <TASK> ? __die+0x20/0x70 ? page_fault_oops+0x15a/0x460 ? sched_balance_find_src_group+0x58d/0xd10 ? exc_page_fault+0x6e/0x180 ? asm_exc_page_fault+0x22/0x30 ? bnxt_get_queue_stats_rx+0xf/0x70 [bnxt_en cdd546fd48563c280cfd30e9647efa420db07bf1] netdev_nl_stats_by_netdev+0x2b1/0x4e0 ? xas_load+0x9/0xb0 ? xas_find+0x183/0x1d0 ? xa_find+0x8b/0xe0 netdev_nl_qstats_get_dumpit+0xbf/0x1e0 genl_dumpit+0x31/0x90 netlink_dump+0x1a8/0x360

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2025-21973?
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: eth: bnxt: fix kernel panic in the bnxt_get_queue_stats{rx | tx} When qstats-get operation is executed, callbacks of netdev_stats_ops are called. The bnxt_get_queue_stats{rx | tx} collect per-queue stats from sw_stats in the rings. But {rx | tx | cp}_ring are allocated when the interface is up. So, these rings are not allocated when the interface is down. The qstats-get is allowed even if the interface is down. However, the bnxt_get_queue_stats{rx | tx}() accesses cp_ring and tx_ring without null check. So, it needs to avoid accessing rings if the interface is down. Reproducer: ip link set $interface down ./cli.py --spec netdev.yaml --dump qstats-get OR ip link set $interface down python ./stats.py Splat looks like: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000 #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode #PF: error_code(0x0000) - not-present page PGD 1680fa067 P4D 1680fa067 PUD 16be3b067 PMD 0 Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP NOPTI CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 1495 Comm: python3 Not tainted 6.14.0-rc4+ #32 5cd0f999d5a15c574ac72b3e4b907341 Hardware name: ASUS System Product Name/PRIME Z690-P D4, BIOS 0603 11/01/2021 RIP: 0010:bnxt_get_queue_stats_rx+0xf/0x70 [bnxt_en] Code: c6 87 b5 18 00 00 02 eb a2 66 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 0f 1f 44 01 RSP: 0018:ffffabef43cdb7e0 EFLAGS: 00010282 RAX: 0000000000000000 RBX: ffffffffc04c8710 RCX: 0000000000000000 RDX: ffffabef43cdb858 RSI: 0000000000000000 RDI: ffff8d504e850000 RBP: ffff8d506c9f9c00 R08: 0000000000000004 R09: ffff8d506bcd901c R10: 0000000000000015 R11: ffff8d506bcd9000 R12: 0000000000000000 R13: ffffabef43cdb8c0 R14: ffff8d504e850000 R15: 0000000000000000 FS: 00007f2c5462b080(0000) GS:ffff8d575f600000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 0000000000000000 CR3: 0000000167fd0000 CR4: 00000000007506f0 PKRU: 55555554 Call Trace: <TASK> ? __die+0x20/0x70 ? page_fault_oops+0x15a/0x460 ? sched_balance_find_src_group+0x58d/0xd10 ? exc_page_fault+0x6e/0x180 ? asm_exc_page_fault+0x22/0x30 ? bnxt_get_queue_stats_rx+0xf/0x70 [bnxt_en cdd546fd48563c280cfd30e9647efa420db07bf1] netdev_nl_stats_by_netdev+0x2b1/0x4e0 ? xas_load+0x9/0xb0 ? xas_find+0x183/0x1d0 ? xa_find+0x8b/0xe0 netdev_nl_qstats_get_dumpit+0xbf/0x1e0 genl_dumpit+0x31/0x90 netlink_dump+0x1a8/0x360
How severe is CVE-2025-21973?
CVE-2025-21973 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-2025-21973 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-2025-21973?
CVE-2025-21973 primarily affects Linux Linux Kernel. In total, 7 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2025-21973?
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-2025-21973 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
Yes. CVE-2025-21973 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2025-9347.
When was CVE-2025-21973 published?
CVE-2025-21973 was published on 2025-04-01 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (7)

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