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CVE Record

CVE-2025-21678: gtp: Destroy device along with udp socket's netns dismantle.

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: gtp: Destroy device along with udp socket's netns dismantle. gtp_newlink() links the device to a list in dev_net(dev) instead of src_net, where a udp tunnel socket is created. Even when src_net is removed, the device stays alive on dev_net(dev). Then, removing src_net triggers the splat below. [0] In this example, gtp0 is created in ns2, and the udp socket is created in ns1. ip netns add ns1 ip netns add ns2 ip -n ns1 link add netns ns2 name gtp0 type gtp role sgsn ip netns del ns1 Let's link the device to the socket's netns instead. Now, gtp_net_exit_batch_rtnl() needs another netdev iteration to remove all gtp devices in the netns. [0]: ref_tracker: net notrefcnt@000000003d6e7d05 has 1/2 users at sk_alloc (./include/net/net_namespace.h:345 net/core/sock.c:2236) inet_create (net/ipv4/af_inet.c:326 net/ipv4/af_inet.c:252) __sock_create (net/socket.c:1558) udp_sock_create4 (net/ipv4/udp_tunnel_core.c:18) gtp_create_sock (./include/net/udp_tunnel.h:59 drivers/net/gtp.c:1423) gtp_create_sockets (drivers/net/gtp.c:1447) gtp_newlink (drivers/net/gtp.c:1507) rtnl_newlink (net/core/rtnetlink.c:3786 net/core/rtnetlink.c:3897 net/core/rtnetlink.c:4012) rtnetlink_rcv_msg (net/core/rtnetlink.c:6922) netlink_rcv_skb (net/netlink/af_netlink.c:2542) netlink_unicast (net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1321 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1347) netlink_sendmsg (net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1891) ____sys_sendmsg (net/socket.c:711 net/socket.c:726 net/socket.c:2583) ___sys_sendmsg (net/socket.c:2639) __sys_sendmsg (net/socket.c:2669) do_syscall_64 (arch/x86/entry/common.c:52 arch/x86/entry/common.c:83) WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 60 at lib/ref_tracker.c:179 ref_tracker_dir_exit (lib/ref_tracker.c:179) Modules linked in: CPU: 1 UID: 0 PID: 60 Comm: kworker/u16:2 Not tainted 6.13.0-rc5-00147-g4c1224501e9d #5 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS rel-1.16.0-0-gd239552ce722-prebuilt.qemu.org 04/01/2014 Workqueue: netns cleanup_net RIP: 0010:ref_tracker_dir_exit (lib/ref_tracker.c:179) Code: 00 00 00 fc ff df 4d 8b 26 49 bd 00 01 00 00 00 00 ad de 4c 39 f5 0f 85 df 00 00 00 48 8b 74 24 08 48 89 df e8 a5 cc 12 02 90 <0f> 0b 90 48 8d 6b 44 be 04 00 00 00 48 89 ef e8 80 de 67 ff 48 89 RSP: 0018:ff11000009a07b60 EFLAGS: 00010286 RAX: 0000000000002bd3 RBX: ff1100000f4e1aa0 RCX: 1ffffffff0e40ac6 RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: 0000000000000000 RDI: ffffffff8423ee3c RBP: ff1100000f4e1af0 R08: 0000000000000001 R09: fffffbfff0e395ae R10: 0000000000000001 R11: 0000000000036001 R12: ff1100000f4e1af0 R13: dead000000000100 R14: ff1100000f4e1af0 R15: dffffc0000000000 FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ff1100006ce80000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 00007f9b2464bd98 CR3: 0000000005286005 CR4: 0000000000771ef0 DR0: 0000000000000000 DR1: 0000000000000000 DR2: 0000000000000000 DR3: 0000000000000000 DR6: 00000000fffe07f0 DR7: 0000000000000400 PKRU: 55555554 Call Trace: <TASK> ? __warn (kernel/panic.c:748) ? ref_tracker_dir_exit (lib/ref_tracker.c:179) ? report_bug (lib/bug.c:201 lib/bug.c:219) ? handle_bug (arch/x86/kernel/traps.c:285) ? exc_invalid_op (arch/x86/kernel/traps.c:309 (discriminator 1)) ? asm_exc_invalid_op (./arch/x86/include/asm/idtentry.h:621) ? _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore (./arch/x86/include/asm/irqflags.h:42 ./arch/x86/include/asm/irqflags.h:97 ./arch/x86/include/asm/irqflags.h:155 ./include/linux/spinlock_api_smp.h:151 kernel/locking/spinlock.c:194) ? ref_tracker_dir_exit (lib/ref_tracker.c:179) ? __pfx_ref_tracker_dir_exit (lib/ref_tracker.c:158) ? kfree (mm/slub.c:4613 mm/slub.c:4761) net_free (net/core/net_namespace.c:476 net/core/net_namespace.c:467) cleanup_net (net/core/net_namespace.c:664 (discriminator 3)) process_one_work (kernel/workqueue.c:3229) worker_thread (kernel/workqueue.c:3304 kernel/workqueue.c:3391 ---truncated---

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2025-21678 is a Linux kernel flaw in GTP device cleanup across network namespaces. A locally authenticated user could trigger unsafe namespace teardown under the rated conditions, potentially affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Exposure is concentrated on systems where affected kernels, GTP functionality, and relevant local networking privileges are all present.

Executive priority

Prioritize shared, multi-tenant, containerized, and GTP-using Linux systems where less-trusted users have networking privileges. Treat ordinary hosts without enabled GTP or relevant local permissions as lower immediate risk, while still following normal kernel patch cycles. Escalate promptly if vendor inventory confirms exposure.

Technical view

The GTP driver attached a device to the device namespace rather than the namespace containing its UDP tunnel socket. Deleting the socket namespace could leave the device alive elsewhere and retain an invalid namespace reference, producing a kernel warning during cleanup. The stable fixes change namespace association and ensure GTP devices are removed during namespace exit.

Likely exposure

Potentially affected Linux releases include the versions identified in the CVE bundle through 6.13. Practical exposure depends on GTP support and whether local users or workloads can create GTP devices across network namespaces. The supplied version data does not provide sufficiently clear boundaries for reliable package-level determination.

Exploitation context

The supplied CVSS 3.1 rating is 7.8: local access, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and potentially high impact. The record is not in KEV, and the supplied sources provide no evidence of active exploitation. They document a reproducible kernel cleanup warning, not confirmed real-world compromise.

Researcher notes

The root issue is inconsistent ownership between dev_net(dev) and the source namespace hosting the UDP tunnel socket. The fix associates the device with the socket namespace and adds removal iteration during namespace exit. The supplied material shows reference-tracker failure; it does not establish a specific exploitation primitive or independently demonstrate confidentiality and integrity compromise.

Mitigation direction

  • Install a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable Linux stable fix.
  • Confirm remediation against distribution or appliance vendor advisories before selecting a package version.
  • Restrict unnecessary local access and privileged network-namespace administration until updates are applied.
  • Disable unused GTP functionality where operationally safe and approved by the system owner.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory kernel versions on Linux hosts and appliances that expose GTP functionality.
  • Determine whether untrusted users or workloads can administer network namespaces or create GTP devices.
  • Map installed vendor kernels to the referenced stable fixes or vendor security advisories.
  • After updating, confirm the running kernel is the remediated vendor build.
  • Monitor kernel logs for GTP, namespace-cleanup, ref_tracker, warning, or crash indicators.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
12

Public sources used

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

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CVE-2025-21678 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-21678Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux459aa660eb1d8ce67080da1983bb81d716aa5a69, 459aa660eb1d8ce67080da1983bb81d716aa5a69, 459aa660eb1d8ce67080da1983bb81d716aa5a69, 459aa660eb1d8ce67080da1983bb81d716aa5a69, 459aa660eb1d8ce67080da1983bb81d716aa5a69, 459aa660eb1d8ce67080da1983bb81d716aa5a69, 459aa660eb1d8ce67080da1983bb81d716aa5a69unaffected
LinuxLinux4.7, 0, 5.4.290, 5.10.234, 5.15.177, 6.1.127, 6.6.74, 6.12.11, 6.13affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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