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CVE Record

CVE-2025-21647: sched: sch_cake: add bounds checks to host bulk flow fairness counts

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sched: sch_cake: add bounds checks to host bulk flow fairness counts Even though we fixed a logic error in the commit cited below, syzbot still managed to trigger an underflow of the per-host bulk flow counters, leading to an out of bounds memory access. To avoid any such logic errors causing out of bounds memory accesses, this commit factors out all accesses to the per-host bulk flow counters to a series of helpers that perform bounds-checking before any increments and decrements. This also has the benefit of improving readability by moving the conditional checks for the flow mode into these helpers, instead of having them spread out throughout the code (which was the cause of the original logic error). As part of this change, the flow quantum calculation is consolidated into a helper function, which means that the dithering applied to the ost load scaling is now applied both in the DRR rotation and when a sparse flow's quantum is first initiated. The only user-visible effect of this is that the maximum packet size that can be sent while a flow stays sparse will now vary with +/- one byte in some cases. This should not make a noticeable difference in practice, and thus it's not worth complicating the code to preserve the old behaviour.

HighCVSS 7.3Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel memory-safety flaw in the CAKE network scheduler. A low-privileged local attacker may be able to turn a counter underflow into out-of-bounds kernel memory access, potentially exposing sensitive data or crashing the host. The sources do not establish remote exploitation or exploitation in the wild.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority kernel update on Linux systems with untrusted local users or confirmed CAKE use. It is not supported as an internet-wide emergency because the attack vector is local and active exploitation is not evidenced. Other applicable systems should receive the vendor kernel update during the next controlled maintenance window.

Technical view

A logic error can underflow per-host bulk-flow counters in sched/sch_cake, causing out-of-bounds memory access. The fix centralizes counter operations in bounds-checking helpers. CVSS 3.1 is 7.3 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:H), indicating local exploitation with high confidentiality and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux systems carrying the affected sch_cake code. Exploitation is rated local and low-complexity, requires low privileges, and needs no user interaction. Risk is greatest on multi-user or tenant systems where untrusted users can reach relevant networking functionality. The bundle does not establish whether CAKE is enabled by default on any distribution.

Exploitation context

Syzbot triggered the faulty state during kernel testing, demonstrating reachability under test conditions. The CVE is not listed in KEV, and the supplied sources do not report active exploitation or public weaponization. Practical reliability, required CAKE configuration, and distribution-specific reachability remain unestablished.

Researcher notes

The fix adds bounds checks to all per-host bulk-flow counter increments and decrements, preventing counter logic errors from directly becoming out-of-bounds accesses. The bundle's normalized version lists are ambiguous and mix commit hashes with releases. Validate applicability against the CVE record, stable commits, and vendor advisories before declaring a system affected.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply the distribution or vendor kernel update incorporating the applicable referenced stable fix.
  • Follow applicable vendor advisories for product-specific packages, fixed builds, and release timing.
  • Restrict untrusted local access until remediation is complete.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel builds and identify systems where CAKE traffic scheduling is present or used.
  • Map each build to its distribution or vendor advisory; do not rely on upstream version numbers alone.
  • Verify the installed kernel includes the applicable stable fix and rebooted into the updated kernel.
  • Monitor relevant hosts for kernel memory faults, crashes, or scheduler-related warnings.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
7

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.

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CVE-2025-21647 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.3 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/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
2ADP providers
12Source links

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
7.3CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:H1.85.5Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.3High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-21647Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

CVECVE Program Container
siemens-SADPADP container
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux4a4eeefa514db570be025ab46d779af180e2c9bb, 7725152b54d295b7da5e34c2f419539b30d017bd, cde71a5677971f4f1b69b25e854891dbe78066a4, 549e407569e08459d16122341d332cb508024094, d4a9039a7b3d8005b90c7b1a55a306444f0e5447, 546ea84d07e3e324644025e2aae2d12ea4c5896e, 546ea84d07e3e324644025e2aae2d12ea4c5896e, d7c01c0714c04431b5e18cf17a9ea68a553d1c3c, 5.4.284, 5.10.226, 5.15.167, 6.1.110, 6.6.51, 6.10.10unaffected
LinuxLinux6.11, 0, 5.4.291, 5.10.235, 5.15.179, 6.1.125, 6.6.72, 6.12.10, 6.13affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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