net: let net.core.dev_weight always be non-zero
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 5 fixed, 4 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: let net.core.dev_weight always be non-zero The following problem was encountered during stability test: (NULL net_device): NAPI poll function process_backlog+0x0/0x530 \ returned 1, exceeding its budget of 0. ------------[ cut here ]------------ list_add double add: new=ffff88905f746f48, prev=ffff88905f746f48, \ next=ffff88905f746e40. WARNING: CPU: 18 PID: 5462 at lib/list_debug.c:35 \ __list_add_valid_or_report+0xf3/0x130 CPU: 18 UID: 0 PID: 5462 Comm: ping Kdump: loaded Not tainted 6.13.0-rc7+ RIP: 0010:__list_add_valid_or_report+0xf3/0x130 Call Trace: ? __warn+0xcd/0x250 ? __list_add_valid_or_report+0xf3/0x130 enqueue_to_backlog+0x923/0x1070 netif_rx_internal+0x92/0x2b0 __netif_rx+0x15/0x170 loopback_xmit+0x2ef/0x450 dev_hard_start_xmit+0x103/0x490 __dev_queue_xmit+0xeac/0x1950 ip_finish_output2+0x6cc/0x1620 ip_output+0x161/0x270 ip_push_pending_frames+0x155/0x1a0 raw_sendmsg+0xe13/0x1550 __sys_sendto+0x3bf/0x4e0 __x64_sys_sendto+0xdc/0x1b0 do_syscall_64+0x5b/0x170 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e The reproduction command is as follows: sysctl -w net.core.dev_weight=0 ping 127.0.0.1 This is because when the napi's weight is set to 0, process_backlog() may return 0 and clear the NAPI_STATE_SCHED bit of napi->state, causing this napi to be re-polled in net_rx_action() until __do_softirq() times out. Since the NAPI_STATE_SCHED bit has been cleared, napi_schedule_rps() can be retriggered in enqueue_to_backlog(), causing this issue. Making the napi's weight always non-zero solves this problem. Triggering this issue requires system-wide admin (setting is not namespaced).
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 2.6.12 and later | 5.4.291, 5.10.235, 5.15.179, 6.1.129, 6.6.76, 6.12.13, 6.13.2, 6.14 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 2.6.12 and later Fixed in 5.4.291, 5.10.235, 5.15.179, 6.1.129, 6.6.76, 6.12.13, 6.13.2, 6.14 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 2
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.13 to before 5.4.291; 5.5 to before 5.10.235; 5.11 to before 5.15.179; 5.16 to before 6.1.129; 6.2 to before 6.6.76; 6.7 to before 6.12.13; 6.13 to before 6.13.2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.12:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.12 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.13 to before 5.4.291; 5.5 to before 5.10.235; 5.11 to before 5.15.179; 5.16 to before 6.1.129; 6.2 to before 6.6.76; 6.7 to before 6.12.13; 6.13 to before 6.13.2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.12:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.12 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.4.291, 5.10.235, 5.15.179, 6.1.129, 6.6.76, 6.12.13, 6.13.2, 6.14
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2025:20518 Released 2025-11-11 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-611.5.1.el9_7, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-611.5.1.el9_7, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-611.5.1.el9_7 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) kernel-5.14.0-611.5.1.el9_7, kernel-64k-5.14.0-611.5.1.el9_7, kernel-64k-core-5.14.0-611.5.1.el9_7 +28
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-611.5.1.el9_7, libperf-5.14.0-611.5.1.el9_7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-611.5.1.el9_7, kernel-rt-64k-5.14.0-611.5.1.el9_7, kernel-rt-64k-core-5.14.0-611.5.1.el9_7 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-611.5.1.el9_7, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-611.5.1.el9_7, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-611.5.1.el9_7 +9
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:20518 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:20518 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:20518 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:20518 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:20518 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-21806
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-mq5p-7q76-276p
- 2026-10-29 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Patch 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d0e0f9c8218826926d7692980c98236d9f21fd3c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c337c08819a4ec49edfdcd8fc46fbee120d8a5b2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0e2f1d93d287d544d26f8ff293ea820a8079b9f8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5860abbf15eeb61838b5e32e721ba67b0aa84450
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6ce38b5a6a49e65bad163162a54cb3f104c40b48
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/33e2168788f8fb5cb8bd4f36cb1ef37d1d34dada
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1489824e5226a26841c70639ebd2d1aed390764b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d1f9f79fa2af8e3b45cffdeef66e05833480148a
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- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2025-21806 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-21806 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-mq5p-7q76-276p · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-21806 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences