CVE-2025-21709 Details
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: kernel: be more careful about dup_mmap() failures and uprobe registering If a memory allocation fails during dup_mmap(), the maple tree can be left in an unsafe state for other iterators besides the exit path. All the locks are dropped before the exit_mmap() call (in mm/mmap.c), but the incomplete mm_struct can be reached through (at least) the rmap finding the vmas which have a pointer back to the mm_struct. Up to this point, there have been no issues with being able to find an mm_struct that was only partially initialised. Syzbot was able to make the incomplete mm_struct fail with recent forking changes, so it has been proven unsafe to use the mm_struct that hasn't been initialised, as referenced in the link below. Although 8ac662f5da19f ("fork: avoid inappropriate uprobe access to invalid mm") fixed the uprobe access, it does not completely remove the race. This patch sets the MMF_OOM_SKIP to avoid the iteration of the vmas on the oom side (even though this is extremely unlikely to be selected as an oom victim in the race window), and sets MMF_UNSTABLE to avoid other potential users from using a partially initialised mm_struct. When registering vmas for uprobe, skip the vmas in an mm that is marked unstable. Modifying a vma in an unstable mm may cause issues if the mm isn't fully initialised.
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's memory management has been addressed, specifically related to the dup_mmap() function and uprobe registration. When memory allocation fails during the duplication of the memory map, it can leave the maple tree in an unsafe state for iterators, except for the exit path. Although the locks are released before calling exit_mmap(), an incomplete mm_struct can still be accessed through the rmap, which identifies virtual memory areas (VMAs) linked to the mm_struct. This issue was highlighted by Syzbot, which demonstrated that an improperly initialized mm_struct could cause failures with recent forking changes, indicating the dangers of using a partially initialized mm_struct.
The patch for this vulnerability has been applied in the Linux kernel. Users should upgrade to the latest stable version of the kernel where this patch is included.
Metrics
CVSS 4.0 Severity and Vector Strings:
No CVSS 4.0 data is available for this CVE.
CVSS 3.x Severity and Vector Strings:
No data available for CVSS Version 2.0 on this CVE.
No SSVC data is available for this CVE.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
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| URL | Source(s) | Tag(s) |
|---|---|---|
| https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/64c37e134b120fb462fb4a80694bfb8e7be77b14 | kernel.org | Patch |
| https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/74c2471eb891a7dcb3874b21c106cda75f52be30 | kernel.org | |
| https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/da139948aeda677ac09cc0e7d837f8a314de7d55 | kernel.org | Patch |
Weakness Enumeration
| CWE-ID | CWE Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| NVD-CWE-noinfo | Insufficient Information to Classify Weakness | [email protected] |
Affected Products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
| linux linux kernel | >= 6.8, < 6.13.2 |
CPE
Remediation
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Change History
5 change records found show changes
| Date | Action | Recorded By |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 30, 2026 | CVE Modified | kernel.org |
| Jun 17, 2026 | CVE Modified | kernel.org |
| Apr 22, 2026 | CVE Modified | kernel.org |
| Oct 23, 2025 | Initial Analysis | [email protected] |
| Feb 27, 2025 | New CVE Received | kernel.org |