Linux Kernel up to 6.14-rc2 openvswitch ovs_vport_cmd_fill_info use after free

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.128/6.6.78/6.12.15/6.13.3/6.14-rc2. This affects the function ovs_vport_cmd_fill_info of the component openvswitch. Executing a manipulation can lead to use after free. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2025-21761. There is not any exploit available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.128/6.6.78/6.12.15/6.13.3/6.14-rc2 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects the function ovs_vport_cmd_fill_info of the component openvswitch. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: openvswitch: use RCU protection in ovs_vport_cmd_fill_info() ovs_vport_cmd_fill_info() can be called without RTNL or RCU. Use RCU protection and dev_net_rcu() to avoid potential UAF.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-21761 since 12/29/2024. The exploitation appears to be easy. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 05/25/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 230858 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-21761), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.129, 6.6.79, 6.12.16, 6.13.4 or 6.14-rc3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 7e01abc34e87abd091e619161a20f54ed4e3e2da/8ec57509c36c8b9a23e50b7858dda0c520a2d074/a849a10de5e04d798f7f286a2f1ca174719a617a/5828937742af74666192835d657095d95c53dbd0/90b2f49a502fa71090d9f4fe29a2f51fe5dff76d is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (230858) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-0453). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Affected

• Google Container-Optimized OS
• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• Siemens SIMATIC S7
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Dell NetWorker
• Dell Avamar
• Red Hat OpenShift
• IBM QRadar SIEM
• SolarWinds Security Event Manager
• Dell PowerProtect Data Domain
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• IBM DataPower Gateway
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway
• Dell PowerScale OneFS
• Dell ECS

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.1.128
• 6.6.0
• 6.6.1
• 6.6.2
• 6.6.3
• 6.6.4
• 6.6.5
• 6.6.6
• 6.6.7
• 6.6.8
• 6.6.9
• 6.6.10
• 6.6.11
• 6.6.12
• 6.6.13
• 6.6.14
• 6.6.15
• 6.6.16
• 6.6.17
• 6.6.18
• 6.6.19
• 6.6.20
• 6.6.21
• 6.6.22
• 6.6.23
• 6.6.24
• 6.6.25
• 6.6.26
• 6.6.27
• 6.6.28
• 6.6.29
• 6.6.30
• 6.6.31
• 6.6.32
• 6.6.33
• 6.6.34
• 6.6.35
• 6.6.36
• 6.6.37
• 6.6.38
• 6.6.39
• 6.6.40
• 6.6.41
• 6.6.42
• 6.6.43
• 6.6.44
• 6.6.45
• 6.6.46
• 6.6.47
• 6.6.48
• 6.6.49
• 6.6.50
• 6.6.51
• 6.6.52
• 6.6.53
• 6.6.54
• 6.6.55
• 6.6.56
• 6.6.57
• 6.6.58
• 6.6.59
• 6.6.60
• 6.6.61
• 6.6.62
• 6.6.63
• 6.6.64
• 6.6.65
• 6.6.66
• 6.6.67
• 6.6.68
• 6.6.69
• 6.6.70
• 6.6.71
• 6.6.72
• 6.6.73
• 6.6.74
• 6.6.75
• 6.6.76
• 6.6.77
• 6.6.78
• 6.12.0
• 6.12.1
• 6.12.2
• 6.12.3
• 6.12.4
• 6.12.5
• 6.12.6
• 6.12.7
• 6.12.8
• 6.12.9
• 6.12.10
• 6.12.11
• 6.12.12
• 6.12.13
• 6.12.14
• 6.12.15
• 6.13.0
• 6.13.1
• 6.13.2
• 6.13.3
• 6.14-rc1
• 6.14-rc2

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Exploitinginfo

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Entryinfo

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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