Linux Kernel up to 6.12.15/6.13.3/6.14-rc2 iopf_queue_remove_device memory leak

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as problematic has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.15/6.13.3/6.14-rc2. The affected element is the function iopf_queue_remove_device. Such manipulation leads to memory leak. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2025-21770. The attack can be executed directly on the physical device. There is not any exploit available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.15/6.13.3/6.14-rc2. Affected by this issue is the function iopf_queue_remove_device. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory leak vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-401. The product does not sufficiently track and release allocated memory after it has been used, which slowly consumes remaining memory. Impacted is availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: iommu: Fix potential memory leak in iopf_queue_remove_device() The iopf_queue_remove_device() helper removes a device from the per-iommu iopf queue when PRI is disabled on the device. It responds to all outstanding iopf's with an IOMMU_PAGE_RESP_INVALID code and detaches the device from the queue. However, it fails to release the group structure that represents a group of iopf's awaiting for a response after responding to the hardware. This can cause a memory leak if iopf_queue_remove_device() is called with pending iopf's. Fix it by calling iopf_free_group() after the iopf group is responded.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2025-21770 since 12/29/2024. The exploitation is known to be difficult. The attack needs to be approached locally. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 236983 (Ubuntu 24.04 LTS / 24.10 : Linux kernel vulnerabilities (USN-7521-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.12.16, 6.13.4 or 6.14-rc3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch db60d2d896a17decd58d143eef92cf22eb0a0176/90d5429cd2921ca2714684ed525898d431bb9283/9759ae2cee7cd42b95f1c48aa3749bd02b5ddb08 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 (236983) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-0453). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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

• 6.12.0
• 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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Entryinfo

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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