Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A memory leak in the Linux TI AM65 CPSW Ethernet driver can consume available memory when an attached XDP program rejects network traffic. Sustained triggering could reduce availability or crash an affected system. The issue does not expose or alter data according to the supplied CVSS assessment.
Executive priority
Prioritize embedded, industrial, or network-facing systems using this specific TI driver and XDP. Patch promptly where both conditions exist, especially on availability-critical assets. Systems without the driver or without attached XDP are unlikely to reach the vulnerable path based on the supplied description.
Technical view
The driver allocated socket-buffer memory before evaluating XDP. When the XDP result was not XDP_PASS, that allocation was not released. The correction evaluates XDP first and allocates the buffer only for XDP_PASS. CVE records classify this as CWE-401 with CVSS 3.1 score 7.5, reflecting remotely reachable availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure requires Linux using the TI AM65 CPSW Ethernet driver with an XDP program attached. The record identifies Linux 6.10, 6.12.16, 6.13.4, and 6.14 as affected, but its version presentation is incomplete or ambiguous. Distribution backports may change actual exposure.
Exploitation context
The supplied record marks this CVE as absent from KEV and provides no evidence of active exploitation. Its CVSS vector describes network-reachable, unauthenticated, low-complexity availability impact. However, the sources do not establish a practical attack rate, required traffic conditions, public exploit availability, or observed incidents.
Researcher notes
The vulnerable path is conditional: am65_cpsw_build_skb() allocates memory that leaks when XDP returns anything other than XDP_PASS. The fix reorders allocation after XDP evaluation and reportedly improves XDP_DROP throughput. Exact affected-version boundaries and commit-to-branch mappings should be confirmed from vendor or distribution advisories.
Mitigation direction
- Install a vendor-supported kernel containing the referenced stable fix or an equivalent backport.
- Check distribution and device-vendor advisories for corrected package versions.
- Where operationally acceptable, avoid attaching XDP programs to affected interfaces until patched.
- Monitor affected systems for abnormal memory growth, pressure, or availability degradation.
Validation and detection
- Inventory systems using the TI AM65 CPSW Ethernet driver.
- Determine whether an XDP program is attached to each affected interface.
- Compare installed kernels with vendor advisories and documented backports.
- Verify the deployed kernel includes an applicable referenced stable commit or equivalent fix.
- Review memory telemetry during representative XDP non-pass traffic handling.
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-401: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2025-21788 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
- High
- CVSS
- 7.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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
2 official scoresWe 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:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H3.93.6LinuxCVSS: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
7.5HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
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/1bba1d042107167164a0ae3a843fdf650ab005d7CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dc11f049612b9d926aca2e55f8dc9d82850d0da3CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5db843258de1e4e6b1ef1cbd1797923c9e3de548CVE 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.
Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime
Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.