Linux Kernel up to 6.12.19/6.13.7 ovs_ct_set_labels allocation of resources

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as problematic has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.19/6.13.7. This affects the function ovs_ct_set_labels. This manipulation causes allocation of resources. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-21958. There is no exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.19/6.13.7. Affected by this vulnerability is the function ovs_ct_set_labels. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a allocation of resources vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-770. The product allocates a reusable resource or group of resources on behalf of an actor without imposing any restrictions on the size or number of resources that can be allocated, in violation of the intended security policy for that actor. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Revert "openvswitch: switch to per-action label counting in conntrack" Currently, ovs_ct_set_labels() is only called for confirmed conntrack entries (ct) within ovs_ct_commit(). However, if the conntrack entry does not have the labels_ext extension, attempting to allocate it in ovs_ct_get_conn_labels() for a confirmed entry triggers a warning in nf_ct_ext_add(): WARN_ON(nf_ct_is_confirmed(ct)); This happens when the conntrack entry is created externally before OVS increments net->ct.labels_used. The issue has become more likely since commit fcb1aa5163b1 ("openvswitch: switch to per-action label counting in conntrack"), which changed to use per-action label counting and increment net->ct.labels_used when a flow with ct action is added. Since there’s no straightforward way to fully resolve this issue at the moment, this reverts the commit to avoid breaking existing use cases.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-21958 since 12/29/2024. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 6.12.20 or 6.13.8 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 9e79fdabd52cfce1a021640a81256878a2c516a2/d91bfc64a4886102746e74d2c6f3a61e9a77fd7d/1063ae07383c0ddc5bcce170260c143825846b03 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 vulnerability database at CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-0683). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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

• 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
• 6.12.16
• 6.12.17
• 6.12.18
• 6.12.19
• 6.13.0
• 6.13.1
• 6.13.2
• 6.13.3
• 6.13.4
• 6.13.5
• 6.13.6
• 6.13.7

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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