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CVE Record

CVE-2025-21752: btrfs: don't use btrfs_set_item_key_safe on RAID stripe-extents

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: don't use btrfs_set_item_key_safe on RAID stripe-extents Don't use btrfs_set_item_key_safe() to modify the keys in the RAID stripe-tree, as this can lead to corruption of the tree, which is caught by the checks in btrfs_set_item_key_safe(): BTRFS info (device nvme1n1): leaf 49168384 gen 15 total ptrs 194 free space 8329 owner 12 BTRFS info (device nvme1n1): refs 2 lock_owner 1030 current 1030 [ snip ] item 105 key (354549760 230 20480) itemoff 14587 itemsize 16 stride 0 devid 5 physical 67502080 item 106 key (354631680 230 4096) itemoff 14571 itemsize 16 stride 0 devid 1 physical 88559616 item 107 key (354631680 230 32768) itemoff 14555 itemsize 16 stride 0 devid 1 physical 88555520 item 108 key (354717696 230 28672) itemoff 14539 itemsize 16 stride 0 devid 2 physical 67604480 [ snip ] BTRFS critical (device nvme1n1): slot 106 key (354631680 230 32768) new key (354635776 230 4096) ------------[ cut here ]------------ kernel BUG at fs/btrfs/ctree.c:2602! Oops: invalid opcode: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP PTI CPU: 1 UID: 0 PID: 1055 Comm: fsstress Not tainted 6.13.0-rc1+ #1464 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS rel-1.16.2-3-gd478f380-rebuilt.opensuse.org 04/01/2014 RIP: 0010:btrfs_set_item_key_safe+0xf7/0x270 Code: <snip> RSP: 0018:ffffc90001337ab0 EFLAGS: 00010287 RAX: 0000000000000000 RBX: ffff8881115fd000 RCX: 0000000000000000 RDX: 0000000000000001 RSI: 0000000000000001 RDI: 00000000ffffffff RBP: ffff888110ed6f50 R08: 00000000ffffefff R09: ffffffff8244c500 R10: 00000000ffffefff R11: 00000000ffffffff R12: ffff888100586000 R13: 00000000000000c9 R14: ffffc90001337b1f R15: ffff888110f23b58 FS: 00007f7d75c72740(0000) GS:ffff88813bd00000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 00007fa811652c60 CR3: 0000000111398001 CR4: 0000000000370eb0 Call Trace: <TASK> ? __die_body.cold+0x14/0x1a ? die+0x2e/0x50 ? do_trap+0xca/0x110 ? do_error_trap+0x65/0x80 ? btrfs_set_item_key_safe+0xf7/0x270 ? exc_invalid_op+0x50/0x70 ? btrfs_set_item_key_safe+0xf7/0x270 ? asm_exc_invalid_op+0x1a/0x20 ? btrfs_set_item_key_safe+0xf7/0x270 btrfs_partially_delete_raid_extent+0xc4/0xe0 btrfs_delete_raid_extent+0x227/0x240 __btrfs_free_extent.isra.0+0x57f/0x9c0 ? exc_coproc_segment_overrun+0x40/0x40 __btrfs_run_delayed_refs+0x2fa/0xe80 btrfs_run_delayed_refs+0x81/0xe0 btrfs_commit_transaction+0x2dd/0xbe0 ? preempt_count_add+0x52/0xb0 btrfs_sync_file+0x375/0x4c0 do_fsync+0x39/0x70 __x64_sys_fsync+0x13/0x20 do_syscall_64+0x54/0x110 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e RIP: 0033:0x7f7d7550ef90 Code: <snip> RSP: 002b:00007ffd70237248 EFLAGS: 00000202 ORIG_RAX: 000000000000004a RAX: ffffffffffffffda RBX: 0000000000000004 RCX: 00007f7d7550ef90 RDX: 000000000000013a RSI: 000000000040eb28 RDI: 0000000000000004 RBP: 000000000000001b R08: 0000000000000078 R09: 00007ffd7023725c R10: 00007f7d75400390 R11: 0000000000000202 R12: 028f5c28f5c28f5c R13: 8f5c28f5c28f5c29 R14: 000000000040b520 R15: 00007f7d75c726c8 </TASK> While the root cause of the tree order corruption isn't clear, using btrfs_duplicate_item() to copy the item and then adjusting both the key and the per-device physical addresses is a safe way to counter this problem.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel Btrfs flaw can corrupt RAID stripe-tree metadata and trigger a kernel BUG/Oops during filesystem activity. The business risk is availability and storage integrity for systems using affected Btrfs RAID features. The public record does not show active exploitation or a CVSS score.

Executive priority

Handle as a targeted infrastructure risk, not an internet-wide emergency. Prioritize storage servers and Linux hosts using Btrfs RAID, because failures could affect data availability or integrity. Patch through normal kernel maintenance once vendor-fixed packages are available.

Technical view

The issue is in Btrfs RAID stripe-extents handling. Using btrfs_set_item_key_safe() to modify RAID stripe-tree keys can corrupt tree ordering; the cited fix uses btrfs_duplicate_item() and adjusts the key and per-device physical addresses instead. The report includes an fsstress/fsync-triggered crash on 6.13.0-rc1+.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most plausible on Linux systems running affected kernels with Btrfs RAID stripe-tree or RAID stripe-extents in use. The source lists Linux kernel version data and stable commits, but distribution-specific affected and fixed package versions must be confirmed with each vendor.

Exploitation context

No cited source says this is exploited in the wild, and the KEV flag is false. The evidence describes a reliability/storage-corruption condition observed under filesystem stress, not a public attack chain. Treat exploitability beyond local filesystem activity as unproven from the provided sources.

Researcher notes

The root cause is explicitly described as unclear in the source. The safe code change avoids btrfs_set_item_key_safe() for RAID stripe-tree key modification. Public data lacks CVSS, CWE, exploit evidence, and distribution mapping, so exposure conclusions should stay tied to Btrfs RAID usage and vendor kernel status.

Mitigation direction

  • Check your Linux distribution advisory for CVE-2025-21752 package status.
  • Update kernels to builds containing the referenced upstream stable fixes.
  • Prioritize hosts using Btrfs RAID features or storage-critical workloads.
  • Maintain verified backups before and after kernel or filesystem remediation.
  • Monitor kernel logs for Btrfs critical messages, BUG/Oops events, and filesystem errors.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions on systems using Btrfs.
  • Identify hosts with Btrfs RAID or RAID stripe-tree usage.
  • Compare running kernels against vendor-fixed builds or referenced stable commits.
  • Review kernel logs for Btrfs tree corruption, fsync crashes, or Oops traces.
  • Confirm storage recovery and backup procedures for affected systems.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
4

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-2025-21752 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
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.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
0ADP providers
3Source links

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.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux02c372e1f016e5113217597ab37b399c4e407477, 02c372e1f016e5113217597ab37b399c4e407477, ab69bf6f8970c09d3735c25094e9471d54365282, 6.6.130unaffected
LinuxLinux6.7, 0, 6.13.3, 6.14affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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