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CVE Record

CVE-2025-21635: rds: sysctl: rds_tcp_{rcv,snd}buf: avoid using current->nsproxy

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: rds: sysctl: rds_tcp_{rcv,snd}buf: avoid using current->nsproxy As mentioned in a previous commit of this series, using the 'net' structure via 'current' is not recommended for different reasons: - Inconsistency: getting info from the reader's/writer's netns vs only from the opener's netns. - current->nsproxy can be NULL in some cases, resulting in an 'Oops' (null-ptr-deref), e.g. when the current task is exiting, as spotted by syzbot [1] using acct(2). The per-netns structure can be obtained from the table->data using container_of(), then the 'net' one can be retrieved from the listen socket (if available).

MediumCVSS 5.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2025-21635 is a Linux kernel flaw that can crash an affected system. A local user with low privileges may trigger a null pointer dereference in RDS TCP buffer sysctl handling, causing a kernel Oops and denial of service. It is not described as allowing data theft or code execution.

Executive priority

Treat this as a routine but real availability risk. It deserves timely kernel maintenance, especially on shared Linux hosts, build systems, container platforms, and other environments with untrusted local users.

Technical view

The issue is a CWE-476 null pointer dereference in rds_tcp_rcvbuf and rds_tcp_sndbuf sysctl code. The vulnerable logic used current->nsproxy to find namespace state, but that pointer can be NULL while a task is exiting. The kernel fix avoids current->nsproxy and derives the network namespace through safer per-netns data paths.

Likely exposure

Exposure is primarily Linux systems running affected kernel versions with the vulnerable RDS sysctl code reachable by local low-privileged users. Distribution kernels may differ because of backports, so version strings alone are insufficient for final exposure decisions.

Exploitation context

The CVE is local, low-complexity, low-privilege, and availability-only by CVSS. The source bundle says syzbot observed the crash pattern. It does not state public exploitation, weaponized exploit availability, or KEV listing.

Researcher notes

Key evidence points to a kernel Oops caused by current->nsproxy being NULL during task exit. The provided fixes change namespace lookup for RDS TCP sysctl handling. No confidentiality or integrity impact is claimed in the provided CVSS vector.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply vendor kernel updates that include the referenced stable Linux fixes.
  • Check distribution advisories for CVE-2025-21635 backport status.
  • Prioritize systems where untrusted local users or workloads run.
  • Reboot or live-patch as required so the fixed kernel is active.
  • If no update is available, follow vendor guidance for temporary risk reduction.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions across Linux hosts.
  • Confirm vendor packages reference CVE-2025-21635 or the stable commit IDs.
  • Verify the active booted kernel is the fixed build.
  • Check vulnerability scanners against vendor backport data, not upstream version only.
  • Document any unpatched systems with business owner and update plan.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
4

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-476: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2025-21635 mapping review

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Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.5 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
3Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
5.5CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

5.5Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-21635Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
cvssV3_1other:ssvc
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxc6a58ffed53612be86b758df1cdb0b0f4305e9cb, c6a58ffed53612be86b758df1cdb0b0f4305e9cbunaffected
LinuxLinux4.6, 0, 6.12.10, 6.13affected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-476 · source CWE mapping

NULL Pointer Dereference

NULL Pointer Dereference represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.