x86/microcode/AMD: Fix out-of-bounds on systems with CPU-less NUMA nodes
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 27 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-129 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: x86/microcode/AMD: Fix out-of-bounds on systems with CPU-less NUMA nodes Currently, load_microcode_amd() iterates over all NUMA nodes, retrieves their CPU masks and unconditionally accesses per-CPU data for the first CPU of each mask. According to Documentation/admin-guide/mm/numaperf.rst: "Some memory may share the same node as a CPU, and others are provided as memory only nodes." Therefore, some node CPU masks may be empty and wouldn't have a "first CPU". On a machine with far memory (and therefore CPU-less NUMA nodes): - cpumask_of_node(nid) is 0 - cpumask_first(0) is CONFIG_NR_CPUS - cpu_data(CONFIG_NR_CPUS) accesses the cpu_info per-CPU array at an index that is 1 out of bounds This does not have any security implications since flashing microcode is a privileged operation but I believe this has reliability implications by potentially corrupting memory while flashing a microcode update. When booting with CONFIG_UBSAN_BOUNDS=y on an AMD machine that flashes a microcode update. I get the following splat: UBSAN: array-index-out-of-bounds in arch/x86/kernel/cpu/microcode/amd.c:X:Y index 512 is out of range for type 'unsigned long[512]' [...] Call Trace: dump_stack __ubsan_handle_out_of_bounds load_microcode_amd request_microcode_amd reload_store kernfs_fop_write_iter vfs_write ksys_write do_syscall_64 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe Change the loop to go over only NUMA nodes which have CPUs before determining whether the first CPU on the respective node needs microcode update. [ bp: Massage commit message, fix typo. ]
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 5.4.235 to before 5.4.292; 5.10.173 to before 5.10.236; 5.15.99 to before 5.15.180; 6.1.16 to before 6.1.132; 4.14.308 to before 4.15; 4.19.276 to before 4.20; 6.2.3 to before 6.3 | 5.4.292, 5.10.236, 5.15.180, 6.1.132, 4.15, 4.20, 6.3 | Patch available | CNA |
| Linux | Linux | 6.3 and later | 5.4.292, 5.10.236, 5.15.180, 6.1.132, 6.6.84, 6.12.20, 6.13.8, 6.14 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 5.4.235 to before 5.4.292; 5.10.173 to before 5.10.236; 5.15.99 to before 5.15.180; 6.1.16 to before 6.1.132; 4.14.308 to before 4.15; 4.19.276 to before 4.20; 6.2.3 to before 6.3 Fixed in 5.4.292, 5.10.236, 5.15.180, 6.1.132, 4.15, 4.20, 6.3 Patch available CNA
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 6.3 and later Fixed in 5.4.292, 5.10.236, 5.15.180, 6.1.132, 6.6.84, 6.12.20, 6.13.8, 6.14 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 7
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.14.308 to before 4.15; 4.19.276 to before 4.20; 5.4.235 to before 5.5; 5.10.173 to before 5.11; 5.15.99 to before 5.16; 6.1.16 to before 6.1.132; 6.2.3 to before 6.6.84; 6.7 to before 6.12.20; 6.13 to before 6.13.8 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.14:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.14 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.14:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.14 rc2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.14:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.14 rc3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.14:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.14 rc4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.14:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.14 rc5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.14:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.14 rc6 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.14.308 to before 4.15; 4.19.276 to before 4.20; 5.4.235 to before 5.5; 5.10.173 to before 5.11; 5.15.99 to before 5.16; 6.1.16 to before 6.1.132; 6.2.3 to before 6.6.84; 6.7 to before 6.12.20; 6.13 to before 6.13.8 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.14:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.14 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.14:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.14 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.14:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.14 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.14:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.14 rc4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.14:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.14 rc5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.14:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.14 rc6 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.4.292, 5.10.236, 5.15.180, 6.1.132, 4.15, 4.20, 6.3
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.4.292, 5.10.236, 5.15.180, 6.1.132, 6.6.84, 6.12.20, 6.13.8, 6.14
Red Hat 9 advisories
- RHSA-2025:14094 Released 2025-08-19 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel-rt security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV E4S (v.9.0) kernel-rt-5.14.0-70.142.1.rt21.214.el9_0, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-70.142.1.rt21.214.el9_0, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-70.142.1.rt21.214.el9_0 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.0) kernel-rt-5.14.0-70.142.1.rt21.214.el9_0, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-70.142.1.rt21.214.el9_0, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-70.142.1.rt21.214.el9_0 +7
- RHSA-2025:14054 Released 2025-08-19 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.0) kernel-debug-devel-5.14.0-70.142.1.el9_0, kernel-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-70.142.1.el9_0, kernel-devel-5.14.0-70.142.1.el9_0 +5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.0) bpftool-5.14.0-70.142.1.el9_0, kernel-5.14.0-70.142.1.el9_0, kernel-abi-stablelists-5.14.0-70.142.1.el9_0 +14
- RHSA-2025:13781 Released 2025-08-13 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.2) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-284.130.1.el9_2, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-284.130.1.el9_2, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-284.130.1.el9_2 +10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.2) bpftool-7.0.0-284.130.1.el9_2, kernel-5.14.0-284.130.1.el9_2, kernel-64k-5.14.0-284.130.1.el9_2 +29
Show 6 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2025:13633 Released 2025-08-11 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel-rt security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.2) kernel-rt-5.14.0-284.130.1.rt14.415.el9_2, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-284.130.1.rt14.415.el9_2, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-284.130.1.rt14.415.el9_2 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV E4S (v.9.2) kernel-rt-5.14.0-284.130.1.rt14.415.el9_2, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-284.130.1.rt14.415.el9_2, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-284.130.1.rt14.415.el9_2 +11
- RHSA-2025:13135 Released 2025-08-06 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.4) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-427.81.1.el9_4, libperf-5.14.0-427.81.1.el9_4
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.4) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-427.81.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-427.81.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-427.81.1.el9_4 +11
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.4) bpftool-7.3.0-427.81.1.el9_4, kernel-5.14.0-427.81.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-5.14.0-427.81.1.el9_4 +29
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.4) kernel-rt-5.14.0-427.81.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-427.81.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-427.81.1.el9_4 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.4) kernel-rt-5.14.0-427.81.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-427.81.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-427.81.1.el9_4 +11
- RHSA-2025:11298 Released 2025-07-16 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-553.62.1.el8_10, kernel-4.18.0-553.62.1.el8_10, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-553.62.1.el8_10 +19
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-553.62.1.el8_10
- RHSA-2025:11299 Released 2025-07-16 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel-rt security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.62.1.rt7.403.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.62.1.rt7.403.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.62.1.rt7.403.el8_10 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.62.1.rt7.403.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.62.1.rt7.403.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.62.1.rt7.403.el8_10 +7
- RHSA-2025:10837 Released 2025-07-14 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-570.26.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-570.26.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-570.26.1.el9_6 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) kernel-5.14.0-570.26.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-5.14.0-570.26.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-core-5.14.0-570.26.1.el9_6 +28
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-570.26.1.el9_6, libperf-5.14.0-570.26.1.el9_6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-570.26.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-64k-5.14.0-570.26.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-64k-core-5.14.0-570.26.1.el9_6 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-570.26.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-570.26.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-570.26.1.el9_6 +11
- RHSA-2025:10371 Released 2025-07-07 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) kernel-64k-debug-devel-6.12.0-55.20.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-6.12.0-55.20.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-devel-6.12.0-55.20.1.el10_0 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) kernel-6.12.0-55.20.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-6.12.0-55.20.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-core-6.12.0-55.20.1.el10_0 +28
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) kernel-tools-libs-devel-6.12.0-55.20.1.el10_0, libperf-6.12.0-55.20.1.el10_0
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-55.20.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-64k-6.12.0-55.20.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-64k-core-6.12.0-55.20.1.el10_0 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-55.20.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-core-6.12.0-55.20.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-debug-6.12.0-55.20.1.el10_0 +11
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:13135 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:10371 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:10837 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:14054 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:13781 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:13135 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:10371 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:11298 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:10837 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:14054 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:13781 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:13135 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:11298 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:10371 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:10837 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:11299 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV E4S (v.9.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:14094 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:11299 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:10371 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:10837 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:14094 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:13633 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:13135 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:10371 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:10837 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV E4S (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:13633 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:13135 |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-21991
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-vp9x-33x6-jvvm
References
Patch 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d509c4731090ebd9bbdb72c70a2d70003ae81f4f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/985a536e04bbfffb1770df43c6470f635a6b1073
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/18b5d857c6496b78ead2fd10001b81ae32d30cac
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ec52240622c4d218d0240079b7c1d3ec2328a9f4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e686349cc19e800dac8971929089ba5ff59abfb0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/488ffc0cac38f203979f83634236ee53251ce593
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5ac295dfccb5b015493f86694fa13a0dde4d3665
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e3e89178a9f4a80092578af3ff3c8478f9187d59
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Sources
- CVE-2025-21991 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-21991 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-vp9x-33x6-jvvm · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-21991 · 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