#VU103960 Improper locking in Linux kernel - CVE-2025-21701

Vulnerability identifier: #VU103960

Vulnerability risk: Low

CVSSv4.0: 1.7 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:U/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Clear]

CVE-ID: CVE-2025-21701

CWE-ID: CWE-667

Exploitation vector: Local

Exploit availability: No

Vulnerable software:
Linux kernel
Operating systems & Components / Operating system

Vendor: Linux Foundation

Description

The vulnerability allows a local user to perform a denial of service (DoS) attack.

The vulnerability exists due to improper locking within the ethnl_ops_begin() function in net/ethtool/netlink.c. A local user can perform a denial of service (DoS) attack.

Mitigation
Install update from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

Linux kernel: 6.12 - 6.12.12

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External links
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/12e070eb6964b341b41677fd260af5a305316a1f
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2f29127e94ae9fdc7497331003d6860e9551cdf3
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4dc880245f9b529fa8f476b5553c799d2848b47b
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b382ab9b885cbb665e0e70a727f101c981b4edf3
https://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v6.x/ChangeLog-6.12.13

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?