#VU106130 Resource management error in Linux kernel - CVE-2025-21868

Vulnerability identifier: #VU106130

Vulnerability risk: Low

CVSSv4.0: 4.3 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Clear]

CVE-ID: CVE-2025-21868

CWE-ID: CWE-399

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 resource management error within the SKB_HEAD_ALIGN(), __netdev_alloc_skb() and napi_alloc_skb() functions in net/core/skbuff.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, 6.12.1, 6.12.2, 6.12.3, 6.12.4, 6.12.5, 6.12.6, 6.12.7, 6.12.8, 6.12.9, 6.12.10, 6.12.11, 6.12.12, 6.12.13, 6.12.14, 6.12.15, 6.12.16

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External links
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/14ad6ed30a10afbe91b0749d6378285f4225d482
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/648e440c98e260dec835e48a5d7a9993477b1f9d
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ed0ca7d2127c63991cfaf1932b827e3f4f8ee480
https://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v6.x/ChangeLog-6.12.17

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

No. This vulnerability can be exploited locally. The attacker should have authentication credentials and successfully authenticate on the system.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.