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CVE-2025-21741NVD status: Modified

Linux: Out-of-bounds Read

CVE-2025-21741 is a high-severity out-of-bounds read vulnerability in Linux, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.1 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 22475242ddb70e35c9148234be9a3aa9fb8efff9, 5835bf66c50ac2b85ed28b282c2456c3516ef0a6, 971b8c572559e52d32a2b82f2d9e0685439a0117 as the first without the flaw, so updating Linux to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.22% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Linux to 22475242ddb70e35c9148234be9a3aa9fb8efff9 or 5835bf66c50ac2b85ed28b282c2456c3516ef0a6 or 971b8c572559e52d32a2b82f2d9e0685439a0117 or ee591f2b281721171896117f9946fced31441418, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Update Linux Kernel to 6.6.78 or 6.12.14 or 6.13.3, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
LinuxLinuxa2d274c62e44b1995c170595db3865c6fe701226 up to, but not including, 22475242ddb70e35c9148234be9a3aa9fb8efff9; a2d274c62e44b1995c170595db3865c6fe701226 up to, but not including, 5835bf66c50ac2b85ed28b282c2456c3516ef0a6; a2d274c62e44b1995c170595db3865c6fe701226 up to, but not including, 971b8c572559e52d32a2b82f2d9e0685439a0117; a2d274c62e44b1995c170595db3865c6fe701226 up to, but not including, ee591f2b281721171896117f9946fced31441418; 6.522475242ddb70e35c9148234be9a3aa9fb8efff9, 5835bf66c50ac2b85ed28b282c2456c3516ef0a6, 971b8c572559e52d32a2b82f2d9e0685439a0117, ee591f2b281721171896117f9946fced31441418
LinuxLinux Kernel6.5 up to, but not including, 6.6.78; 6.7 up to, but not including, 6.12.14; 6.13 up to, but not including, 6.13.36.6.78, 6.12.14, 6.13.3

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
NoneNothing can be modified.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.1HighNVD
CVSS 3.17.1HighCISA (ADP)

Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: usbnet: ipheth: fix DPE OoB read Fix an out-of-bounds DPE read, limit the number of processed DPEs to the amount that fits into the fixed-size NDP16 header.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Out-of-bounds Read

The product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Use a language that provides appropriate memory abstractions.

More Out-of-bounds Read vulnerabilities (CWE-125)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Recent Out-of-bounds Read vulnerabilities

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