CVE-2025-21984

CVE-2025-21984 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux Linux Kernel with a CVSS 3.x base score of 4.7. 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-362.

Key facts

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm: fix kernel BUG when userfaultfd_move encounters swapcache userfaultfd_move() checks whether the PTE entry is present or a swap entry. - If the PTE entry is present, move_present_pte() handles folio migration by setting: src_folio->index = linear_page_index(dst_vma, dst_addr); - If the PTE entry is a swap entry, move_swap_pte() simply copies the PTE to the new dst_addr. This approach is incorrect because, even if the PTE is a swap entry, it can still reference a folio that remains in the swap cache. This creates a race window between steps 2 and 4. 1. add_to_swap: The folio is added to the swapcache. 2. try_to_unmap: PTEs are converted to swap entries. 3. pageout: The folio is written back. 4. Swapcache is cleared. If userfaultfd_move() occurs in the window between steps 2 and 4, after the swap PTE has been moved to the destination, accessing the destination triggers do_swap_page(), which may locate the folio in the swapcache. However, since the folio's index has not been updated to match the destination VMA, do_swap_page() will detect a mismatch. This can result in two critical issues depending on the system configuration. If KSM is disabled, both small and large folios can trigger a BUG during the add_rmap operation due to: page_pgoff(folio, page) != linear_page_index(vma, address) [ 13.336953] page: refcount:6 mapcount:1 mapping:00000000f43db19c index:0xffffaf150 pfn:0x4667c [ 13.337520] head: order:2 mapcount:1 entire_mapcount:0 nr_pages_mapped:1 pincount:0 [ 13.337716] memcg:ffff00000405f000 [ 13.337849] anon flags: 0x3fffc0000020459(locked|uptodate|dirty|owner_priv_1|head|swapbacked|node=0|zone=0|lastcpupid=0xffff) [ 13.338630] raw: 03fffc0000020459 ffff80008507b538 ffff80008507b538 ffff000006260361 [ 13.338831] raw: 0000000ffffaf150 0000000000004000 0000000600000000 ffff00000405f000 [ 13.339031] head: 03fffc0000020459 ffff80008507b538 ffff80008507b538 ffff000006260361 [ 13.339204] head: 0000000ffffaf150 0000000000004000 0000000600000000 ffff00000405f000 [ 13.339375] head: 03fffc0000000202 fffffdffc0199f01 ffffffff00000000 0000000000000001 [ 13.339546] head: 0000000000000004 0000000000000000 00000000ffffffff 0000000000000000 [ 13.339736] page dumped because: VM_BUG_ON_PAGE(page_pgoff(folio, page) != linear_page_index(vma, address)) [ 13.340190] ------------[ cut here ]------------ [ 13.340316] kernel BUG at mm/rmap.c:1380! [ 13.340683] Internal error: Oops - BUG: 00000000f2000800 [#1] PREEMPT SMP [ 13.340969] Modules linked in: [ 13.341257] CPU: 1 UID: 0 PID: 107 Comm: a.out Not tainted 6.14.0-rc3-gcf42737e247a-dirty #299 [ 13.341470] Hardware name: linux,dummy-virt (DT) [ 13.341671] pstate: 60000005 (nZCv daif -PAN -UAO -TCO -DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) [ 13.341815] pc : __page_check_anon_rmap+0xa0/0xb0 [ 13.341920] lr : __page_check_anon_rmap+0xa0/0xb0 [ 13.342018] sp : ffff80008752bb20 [ 13.342093] x29: ffff80008752bb20 x28: fffffdffc0199f00 x27: 0000000000000001 [ 13.342404] x26: 0000000000000000 x25: 0000000000000001 x24: 0000000000000001 [ 13.342575] x23: 0000ffffaf0d0000 x22: 0000ffffaf0d0000 x21: fffffdffc0199f00 [ 13.342731] x20: fffffdffc0199f00 x19: ffff000006210700 x18: 00000000ffffffff [ 13.342881] x17: 6c203d2120296567 x16: 6170202c6f696c6f x15: 662866666f67705f [ 13.343033] x14: 6567617028454741 x13: 2929737365726464 x12: ffff800083728ab0 [ 13.343183] x11: ffff800082996bf8 x10: 0000000000000fd7 x9 : ffff80008011bc40 [ 13.343351] x8 : 0000000000017fe8 x7 : 00000000fffff000 x6 : ffff8000829eebf8 [ 13.343498] x5 : c0000000fffff000 x4 : 0000000000000000 x3 : 0000000000000000 [ 13.343645] x2 : 0000000000000000 x1 : ffff0000062db980 x0 : 000000000000005f [ 13.343876] Call trace: [ 13.344045] __page_check_anon_rmap+0xa0/0xb0 (P) [ 13.344234] folio_add_anon_rmap_ptes+0x22c/0x320 [ 13.344333] do_swap_page+0x1060/0x1400 [ 13.344417] __handl ---truncated---

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2025-21984?
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm: fix kernel BUG when userfaultfd_move encounters swapcache userfaultfd_move() checks whether the PTE entry is present or a swap entry. - If the PTE entry is present, move_present_pte() handles folio migration by setting: src_folio->index = linear_page_index(dst_vma, dst_addr); - If the PTE entry is a swap entry, move_swap_pte() simply copies the PTE to the new dst_addr. This approach is incorrect because, even if the PTE is a swap entry, it can still reference a folio that remains in the swap cache. This creates a race window between steps 2 and 4. 1. add_to_swap: The folio is added to the swapcache. 2. try_to_unmap: PTEs are converted to swap entries. 3. pageout: The folio is written back. 4. Swapcache is cleared. If userfaultfd_move() occurs in the window between steps 2 and 4, after the swap PTE has been moved to the destination, accessing the destination triggers do_swap_page(), which may locate the folio in the swapcache. However, since the folio's index has not been updated to match the destination VMA, do_swap_page() will detect a mismatch. This can result in two critical issues depending on the system configuration. If KSM is disabled, both small and large folios can trigger a BUG during the add_rmap operation due to: page_pgoff(folio, page) != linear_page_index(vma, address) [ 13.336953] page: refcount:6 mapcount:1 mapping:00000000f43db19c index:0xffffaf150 pfn:0x4667c [ 13.337520] head: order:2 mapcount:1 entire_mapcount:0 nr_pages_mapped:1 pincount:0 [ 13.337716] memcg:ffff00000405f000 [ 13.337849] anon flags: 0x3fffc0000020459(locked|uptodate|dirty|owner_priv_1|head|swapbacked|node=0|zone=0|lastcpupid=0xffff) [ 13.338630] raw: 03fffc0000020459 ffff80008507b538 ffff80008507b538 ffff000006260361 [ 13.338831] raw: 0000000ffffaf150 0000000000004000 0000000600000000 ffff00000405f000 [ 13.339031] head: 03fffc0000020459 ffff80008507b538 ffff80008507b538 ffff000006260361 [ 13.339204] head: 0000000ffffaf150 0000000000004000 0000000600000000 ffff00000405f000 [ 13.339375] head: 03fffc0000000202 fffffdffc0199f01 ffffffff00000000 0000000000000001 [ 13.339546] head: 0000000000000004 0000000000000000 00000000ffffffff 0000000000000000 [ 13.339736] page dumped because: VM_BUG_ON_PAGE(page_pgoff(folio, page) != linear_page_index(vma, address)) [ 13.340190] ------------[ cut here ]------------ [ 13.340316] kernel BUG at mm/rmap.c:1380! [ 13.340683] Internal error: Oops - BUG: 00000000f2000800 [#1] PREEMPT SMP [ 13.340969] Modules linked in: [ 13.341257] CPU: 1 UID: 0 PID: 107 Comm: a.out Not tainted 6.14.0-rc3-gcf42737e247a-dirty #299 [ 13.341470] Hardware name: linux,dummy-virt (DT) [ 13.341671] pstate: 60000005 (nZCv daif -PAN -UAO -TCO -DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) [ 13.341815] pc : __page_check_anon_rmap+0xa0/0xb0 [ 13.341920] lr : __page_check_anon_rmap+0xa0/0xb0 [ 13.342018] sp : ffff80008752bb20 [ 13.342093] x29: ffff80008752bb20 x28: fffffdffc0199f00 x27: 0000000000000001 [ 13.342404] x26: 0000000000000000 x25: 0000000000000001 x24: 0000000000000001 [ 13.342575] x23: 0000ffffaf0d0000 x22: 0000ffffaf0d0000 x21: fffffdffc0199f00 [ 13.342731] x20: fffffdffc0199f00 x19: ffff000006210700 x18: 00000000ffffffff [ 13.342881] x17: 6c203d2120296567 x16: 6170202c6f696c6f x15: 662866666f67705f [ 13.343033] x14: 6567617028454741 x13: 2929737365726464 x12: ffff800083728ab0 [ 13.343183] x11: ffff800082996bf8 x10: 0000000000000fd7 x9 : ffff80008011bc40 [ 13.343351] x8 : 0000000000017fe8 x7 : 00000000fffff000 x6 : ffff8000829eebf8 [ 13.343498] x5 : c0000000fffff000 x4 : 0000000000000000 x3 : 0000000000000000 [ 13.343645] x2 : 0000000000000000 x1 : ffff0000062db980 x0 : 000000000000005f [ 13.343876] Call trace: [ 13.344045] __page_check_anon_rmap+0xa0/0xb0 (P) [ 13.344234] folio_add_anon_rmap_ptes+0x22c/0x320 [ 13.344333] do_swap_page+0x1060/0x1400 [ 13.344417] __handl ---truncated---
How severe is CVE-2025-21984?
CVE-2025-21984 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 4.7, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with high attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2025-21984 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (3rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2025-21984?
CVE-2025-21984 primarily affects Linux Linux Kernel. In total, 6 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2025-21984?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
Does CVE-2025-21984 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
Yes. CVE-2025-21984 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2025-9336.
When was CVE-2025-21984 published?
CVE-2025-21984 was published on 2025-04-01 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (6)

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