Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2025-21723 is a Linux kernel availability flaw in the mpi3mr SCSI driver. Under a bsg setup failure and later device removal path, the kernel can hit a NULL pointer dereference and crash. The impact is service interruption, not data theft or tampering, based on the provided CVSS vector.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate operational resilience issue. It is unlikely to drive emergency response without active exploitation evidence, but systems relying on impacted storage drivers should be patched in normal kernel maintenance windows to reduce crash risk.
Technical view
The flaw is CWE-476 in Linux mpi3mr cleanup logic. If bsg_setup_queue() fails, bsg_queue can remain non-NULL, causing mpi3mr_bsg_exit() to skip the intended removal path and dereference invalid state during driver removal or unbind. CVSS is 5.5: local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, high availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Linux systems using the mpi3mr SCSI driver and kernel versions matching the vendor's affected ranges. The source bundle lists Linux kernel affected version markers including 5.19, 6.12.13, 6.13.2, and 6.14, but distribution backport status must be verified with each kernel vendor.
Exploitation context
The CVE is not listed as KEV in the provided bundle, and no cited source states active exploitation. The described failure is local and availability-focused. Evidence supports a crash risk during driver cleanup after bsg setup failure, not remote compromise or confidentiality impact.
Researcher notes
The evidence is strongest for a local denial-of-service condition in mpi3mr error cleanup. The source bundle does not provide exploit proof, affected hardware details, or distribution-specific fixed builds. Validate exposure through kernel version, driver use, and vendor backport mapping rather than raw upstream version alone.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Linux kernel or distribution updates that include the linked mpi3mr stable fixes.
- Check your Linux vendor advisory for exact fixed package versions and backports.
- Prioritize systems using mpi3mr-backed storage or affected kernel builds.
- Where updates are delayed, reduce unnecessary local access to impacted systems.
Validation and detection
- Inventory hosts running Linux kernels in the affected version range.
- Confirm whether the mpi3mr driver is present, loaded, or required.
- Map installed distro kernel packages to vendor-fixed versions.
- Review kernel logs for mpi3mr cleanup crashes or NULL pointer dereferences.
- Verify patched kernels include one of the referenced stable commits or vendor equivalent.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
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 lookupCVE-2025-21723 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- 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
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.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/19b248069d1b1424982723a2bf3941ad864d5204CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/832b8f95a2832321b8200ae478ed988b25faaef4CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/295006f6e8c17212d3098811166e29627d19e05cCVE reference, Linux
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
NULL Pointer Dereference
NULL Pointer Dereference represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.