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CVE Record

CVE-2025-21727: padata: fix UAF in padata_reorder

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: padata: fix UAF in padata_reorder A bug was found when run ltp test: BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in padata_find_next+0x29/0x1a0 Read of size 4 at addr ffff88bbfe003524 by task kworker/u113:2/3039206 CPU: 0 PID: 3039206 Comm: kworker/u113:2 Kdump: loaded Not tainted 6.6.0+ Workqueue: pdecrypt_parallel padata_parallel_worker Call Trace: <TASK> dump_stack_lvl+0x32/0x50 print_address_description.constprop.0+0x6b/0x3d0 print_report+0xdd/0x2c0 kasan_report+0xa5/0xd0 padata_find_next+0x29/0x1a0 padata_reorder+0x131/0x220 padata_parallel_worker+0x3d/0xc0 process_one_work+0x2ec/0x5a0 If 'mdelay(10)' is added before calling 'padata_find_next' in the 'padata_reorder' function, this issue could be reproduced easily with ltp test (pcrypt_aead01). This can be explained as bellow: pcrypt_aead_encrypt ... padata_do_parallel refcount_inc(&pd->refcnt); // add refcnt ... padata_do_serial padata_reorder // pd while (1) { padata_find_next(pd, true); // using pd queue_work_on ... padata_serial_worker crypto_del_alg padata_put_pd_cnt // sub refcnt padata_free_shell padata_put_pd(ps->pd); // pd is freed // loop again, but pd is freed // call padata_find_next, UAF } In the padata_reorder function, when it loops in 'while', if the alg is deleted, the refcnt may be decreased to 0 before entering 'padata_find_next', which leads to UAF. As mentioned in [1], do_serial is supposed to be called with BHs disabled and always happen under RCU protection, to address this issue, add synchronize_rcu() in 'padata_free_shell' wait for all _do_serial calls to finish. [1] https://lore.kernel.org/all/20221028160401.cccypv4euxikusiq@parnassus.localdomain/ [2] https://lore.kernel.org/linux-kernel/jfjz5d7zwbytztackem7ibzalm5lnxldi2eofeiczqmqs2m7o6@fq426cwnjtkm/

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2025-21727 is a Linux kernel use-after-free flaw in padata, a parallel processing framework used by kernel subsystems such as crypto paths. A local authenticated user could potentially affect confidentiality, integrity, or availability. Treat exposed Linux systems as high priority, especially shared servers, appliances, and systems running vendor kernels with this fix pending.

Executive priority

Handle as a high-priority kernel maintenance issue. It is not evidenced as actively exploited, but successful abuse could have serious host impact and may cross tenant or user boundaries on shared systems. Patch through normal emergency or accelerated kernel-update processes based on local exposure.

Technical view

The bug occurs in padata_reorder when padata_find_next can reuse a freed pd structure after reference count teardown during algorithm deletion. The resolved fix adds RCU synchronization in padata_free_shell so in-flight do_serial paths finish before freeing related state. Sources classify it as CWE-416 with CVSS 3.1 score 7.8, AV:L/PR:L/UI:N.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions or vendor builds without the padata fix. Cloud hosts, containers, and appliances inherit risk from the host kernel. Distribution and device-vendor backports may change version-based conclusions, so package advisory status matters more than raw upstream version alone.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or public active exploitation. The bug was reproduced with Linux Test Project pcrypt testing and KASAN. The CVSS vector requires local privileges, so the main concern is local privilege-boundary impact, multi-user systems, and workloads where untrusted users can run code.

Researcher notes

Focus review on padata_reorder, padata_find_next, padata_free_shell, reference counting, and RCU lifetime guarantees. The provided evidence supports a local attack surface and a race/lifetime bug, but does not provide confirmed exploit availability, affected configuration prerequisites, or complete downstream package status.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply the Linux stable kernel update or vendor package containing the padata fix.
  • Check Debian LTS advisories if running affected Debian kernel packages.
  • For Siemens products, follow SSA-265688 product-specific guidance.
  • Prioritize shared, multi-user, internet-facing, and appliance hosts first.
  • If no vendor package exists, monitor official kernel and vendor advisories.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions and vendor package revisions across affected assets.
  • Confirm whether vendor changelogs include CVE-2025-21727 or the padata fix.
  • Map appliances and embedded products to Siemens or other vendor advisories.
  • Verify patched hosts rebooted into the updated kernel, not only installed it.
  • Run normal kernel and crypto workload regression tests after patching.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
12

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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ATT&CK lookup starting points

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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-416: Exact CWE lookup

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Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2025-21727 mapping review

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Open ATT&CK lookup
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
3ADP providers
11Source links

SSVC decision data

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

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:H1.85.9CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-21727Attack 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

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
cvssV3_1other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container
siemens-SADPADP container
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxb128a30409356df65f1a51cff3eb986cac8cfedc, b128a30409356df65f1a51cff3eb986cac8cfedc, b128a30409356df65f1a51cff3eb986cac8cfedc, b128a30409356df65f1a51cff3eb986cac8cfedc, b128a30409356df65f1a51cff3eb986cac8cfedc, b128a30409356df65f1a51cff3eb986cac8cfedc, b128a30409356df65f1a51cff3eb986cac8cfedcunaffected
LinuxLinux5.4, 0, 5.10.235, 5.15.179, 6.1.129, 6.6.76, 6.12.13, 6.13.2, 6.14affected
Weakness

CWE details

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

CWE-416 · source CWE mapping

Use After Free

Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.