Linux Kernel up to 6.13.6 nl80211 state issue

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.4$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.13.6. Impacted is an unknown function of the component nl80211. Performing a manipulation results in state issue. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2025-21909. No exploit exists. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.13.6. This affects some unknown processing of the component nl80211. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a state issue vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-371. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: nl80211: reject cooked mode if it is set along with other flags It is possible to set both MONITOR_FLAG_COOK_FRAMES and MONITOR_FLAG_ACTIVE flags simultaneously on the same monitor interface from the userspace. This causes a sub-interface to be created with no IEEE80211_SDATA_IN_DRIVER bit set because the monitor interface is in the cooked state and it takes precedence over all other states. When the interface is then being deleted the kernel calls WARN_ONCE() from check_sdata_in_driver() because of missing that bit. Fix this by rejecting MONITOR_FLAG_COOK_FRAMES if it is set along with other flags. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with Syzkaller.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-21909 since 12/29/2024. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 02/01/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 234309 (Debian dsa-5900 : affs-modules-6.1.0-28-4kc-malta-di - security update), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.4.291, 5.10.235, 5.15.179, 6.1.131, 6.6.83, 6.12.19 or 6.13.7 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 5ea856d93794c4afa5542defd8c61f2708dc245a/351eb7ac53ff1cd94d893c0c4534ced2f36ae7d7/cd1bdcb77fdc03c253137e55bae10551b3481461/236f41ca728f23210b31ed2d1d8a6df575a4b2d6/ebebbb0eded2ed9a1abfa31962f6fb699e6abce7/521e55c2b0d6028861ac0a2d06aa57bb0e3ac486/ac4860141300581d3e2f6c6dafa37220f7ea9f65/49f27f29446a5bfe633dd2cc0cfebd48a1a5e77f 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 (234309) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-0683). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Affected

  • Google Container-Optimized OS
  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Dell Avamar
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • SolarWinds Security Event Manager
  • Dell NetWorker
  • Dell Secure Connect Gateway
  • IBM Security Verify Access

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.4

VulDB Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Temp Score: 5.3
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: State issue
CWE: CWE-371
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 234309
Nessus Name: Debian dsa-5900 : affs-modules-6.1.0-28-4kc-malta-di - security update

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Kernel 5.4.291/5.10.235/5.15.179/6.1.131/6.6.83/6.12.19/6.13.7
Patch: 5ea856d93794c4afa5542defd8c61f2708dc245a/351eb7ac53ff1cd94d893c0c4534ced2f36ae7d7/cd1bdcb77fdc03c253137e55bae10551b3481461/236f41ca728f23210b31ed2d1d8a6df575a4b2d6/ebebbb0eded2ed9a1abfa31962f6fb699e6abce7/521e55c2b0d6028861ac0a2d06aa57bb0e3ac486/ac4860141300581d3e2f6c6dafa37220f7ea9f65/49f27f29446a5bfe633dd2cc0cfebd48a1a5e77f

Timelineinfo

12/29/2024 🔍
04/01/2025 +92 days 🔍
04/01/2025 +0 days 🔍
02/01/2026 +306 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-21909 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-21909
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-302637
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-0683 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 04/01/2025 19:04
Updated: 02/01/2026 05:04
Changes: 04/01/2025 19:04 (57), 04/14/2025 11:59 (2), 07/20/2025 02:06 (7), 07/21/2025 18:29 (1), 10/26/2025 19:41 (1), 10/31/2025 19:52 (11), 02/01/2026 05:04 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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