Read the docs
TI-2020-15659 Aliases CVE-2020-25641GHSA-8c9g-77vh-m2jv

Infinite loop in kernel

Priority LOW 25CWE-835Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Denial of service
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · None · High
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 12 fixed, 3 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-835.

Summary

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's implementation of biovecs in versions before 5.9-rc7. A zero-length biovec request issued by the block subsystem could cause the kernel to enter an infinite loop, causing a denial of service. This flaw allows a local attacker with basic privileges to issue requests to a block device, resulting in a denial of service. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to system availability.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.00385 32nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Red Hat: 6 advisoriesRed Hat: 12 fixed, 3 without a fix

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
—kernelkernel versions before 5.9-rc7—No fix listedCNA
  • kernel Vendor— Affected kernel versions before 5.9-rc7 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 15

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*up to 5.8.13VulnerableLinux
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*5.9.0VulnerableLinux
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*5.9.0 rc1VulnerableLinux
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*5.9.0 rc2VulnerableLinux
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*5.9.0 rc3VulnerableLinux
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*5.9.0 rc4VulnerableLinux
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*5.9.0 rc5VulnerableLinux
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:*5.9.0 rc6VulnerableLinux
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.0VulnerableRed Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 5.8.13 Vulnerable ·Linux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.9.0 Vulnerable ·Linux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.9.0 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.9.0 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.9.0 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.9.0 rc4 Vulnerable ·Linux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.9.0 rc5 Vulnerable ·Linux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.9.0 rc6 Vulnerable ·Linux
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
Show 5 more CPE
CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*15.1VulnerableopenSUSE
cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*15.2VulnerableopenSUSE
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*9.0VulnerableDebian
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*18.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*20.04VulnerableCanonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 15.1 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
  • cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 15.2 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
  • cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 18.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 20.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical

Remediation

Red Hat 6 advisories

  • RHSA-2021:0136 Released 2021-01-14 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    kernel-rt security and bug fix update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v. 8.2) kernel-rt-4.18.0-193.40.1.rt13.90.el8_2, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-193.40.1.rt13.90.el8_2, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-193.40.1.rt13.90.el8_2 +7
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v. 8.2) kernel-rt-4.18.0-193.40.1.rt13.90.el8_2, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-193.40.1.rt13.90.el8_2, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-193.40.1.rt13.90.el8_2 +9
  • RHSA-2021:0073 Released 2021-01-12 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    kernel security and bug fix update
    • Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 8.2) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-193.40.1.el8_2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 8.2) bpftool-4.18.0-193.40.1.el8_2, kernel-4.18.0-193.40.1.el8_2, kernel-abi-whitelists-4.18.0-193.40.1.el8_2 +20
  • RHSA-2020:5374 Released 2020-12-08 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    kernel security and bug fix update
    • Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 8.1) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-147.34.1.el8_1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 8.1) bpftool-4.18.0-147.34.1.el8_1, kernel-4.18.0-147.34.1.el8_1, kernel-abi-whitelists-4.18.0-147.34.1.el8_1 +18
Show 3 more Red Hat advisories
  • RHSA-2020:5079 Released 2020-11-10 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    kernel-alt security and bug fix update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7) kernel-4.14.0-115.33.1.el7a, kernel-abi-whitelists-4.14.0-115.33.1.el7a, kernel-alt-4.14.0-115.33.1.el7a +8
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server Optional (v. 7) kernel-debug-devel-4.14.0-115.33.1.el7a, kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.14.0-115.33.1.el7a
  • RHSA-2020:4609 Released 2020-11-04 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    kernel-rt security and bug fix update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-240.rt7.54.el8, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-240.rt7.54.el8, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-240.rt7.54.el8 +7
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-240.rt7.54.el8, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-240.rt7.54.el8, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-240.rt7.54.el8 +9
  • RHSA-2020:4431 Released 2020-11-04 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
    • Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-240.el8
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-240.el8, kernel-4.18.0-240.el8, kernel-abi-whitelists-4.18.0-240.el8 +19

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2020:4431
Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 8.1)Fixed RHSA-2020:5374
Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 8.2)Fixed RHSA-2021:0073
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2020:4431
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 8.1)Fixed RHSA-2020:5374
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 8.2)Fixed RHSA-2021:0073
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2020:4609
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v. 8.2)Fixed RHSA-2021:0136
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2020:4609
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v. 8.2)Fixed RHSA-2021:0136
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2020:5079
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2020:5079
Not affected: 4 products
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 8.1)
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 8.2)
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7)

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-25641
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-8c9g-77vh-m2jv

References

Patch 2

Advisory 7

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences