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CVE Record

CVE-2025-21845: mtd: spi-nor: sst: Fix SST write failure

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mtd: spi-nor: sst: Fix SST write failure 'commit 18bcb4aa54ea ("mtd: spi-nor: sst: Factor out common write operation to `sst_nor_write_data()`")' introduced a bug where only one byte of data is written, regardless of the number of bytes passed to sst_nor_write_data(), causing a kernel crash during the write operation. Ensure the correct number of bytes are written as passed to sst_nor_write_data(). Call trace: [ 57.400180] ------------[ cut here ]------------ [ 57.404842] While writing 2 byte written 1 bytes [ 57.409493] WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 737 at drivers/mtd/spi-nor/sst.c:187 sst_nor_write_data+0x6c/0x74 [ 57.418464] Modules linked in: [ 57.421517] CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 737 Comm: mtd_debug Not tainted 6.12.0-g5ad04afd91f9 #30 [ 57.429517] Hardware name: Xilinx Versal A2197 Processor board revA - x-prc-02 revA (DT) [ 57.437600] pstate: 60000005 (nZCv daif -PAN -UAO -TCO -DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) [ 57.444557] pc : sst_nor_write_data+0x6c/0x74 [ 57.448911] lr : sst_nor_write_data+0x6c/0x74 [ 57.453264] sp : ffff80008232bb40 [ 57.456570] x29: ffff80008232bb40 x28: 0000000000010000 x27: 0000000000000001 [ 57.463708] x26: 000000000000ffff x25: 0000000000000000 x24: 0000000000000000 [ 57.470843] x23: 0000000000010000 x22: ffff80008232bbf0 x21: ffff000816230000 [ 57.477978] x20: ffff0008056c0080 x19: 0000000000000002 x18: 0000000000000006 [ 57.485112] x17: 0000000000000000 x16: 0000000000000000 x15: ffff80008232b580 [ 57.492246] x14: 0000000000000000 x13: ffff8000816d1530 x12: 00000000000004a4 [ 57.499380] x11: 000000000000018c x10: ffff8000816fd530 x9 : ffff8000816d1530 [ 57.506515] x8 : 00000000fffff7ff x7 : ffff8000816fd530 x6 : 0000000000000001 [ 57.513649] x5 : 0000000000000000 x4 : 0000000000000000 x3 : 0000000000000000 [ 57.520782] x2 : 0000000000000000 x1 : 0000000000000000 x0 : ffff0008049b0000 [ 57.527916] Call trace: [ 57.530354] sst_nor_write_data+0x6c/0x74 [ 57.534361] sst_nor_write+0xb4/0x18c [ 57.538019] mtd_write_oob_std+0x7c/0x88 [ 57.541941] mtd_write_oob+0x70/0xbc [ 57.545511] mtd_write+0x68/0xa8 [ 57.548733] mtdchar_write+0x10c/0x290 [ 57.552477] vfs_write+0xb4/0x3a8 [ 57.555791] ksys_write+0x74/0x10c [ 57.559189] __arm64_sys_write+0x1c/0x28 [ 57.563109] invoke_syscall+0x54/0x11c [ 57.566856] el0_svc_common.constprop.0+0xc0/0xe0 [ 57.571557] do_el0_svc+0x1c/0x28 [ 57.574868] el0_svc+0x30/0xcc [ 57.577921] el0t_64_sync_handler+0x120/0x12c [ 57.582276] el0t_64_sync+0x190/0x194 [ 57.585933] ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- [pratyush@kernel.org: add Cc stable tag]

MediumCVSS 5.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel issue can crash systems during writes to certain SST SPI-NOR flash storage. The business risk is availability loss on affected embedded, edge, or appliance platforms, not data theft. Exploitation requires local privileges and relevant hardware or MTD access.

Executive priority

Treat as a targeted availability risk. Prioritize patching only where affected kernels and SST SPI-NOR flash are present, especially appliances or embedded platforms where crashes affect service continuity.

Technical view

A regression in the Linux kernel mtd spi-nor SST write path made sst_nor_write_data() write one byte regardless of the requested length. The source describes a kernel warning and crash during MTD write operations. CVSS is 5.5 with local access, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and high availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems running affected 6.12, 6.12.17, 6.13.5, or 6.14 lineage kernels with SST SPI-NOR flash and writable MTD paths. General servers without this hardware or driver path are less likely exposed.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or public active exploitation. The CVSS vector requires local low-privileged access. The practical risk is a local actor or faulty workload triggering a kernel crash while writing affected flash storage.

Researcher notes

Evidence is strongest for the specific SST SPI-NOR MTD write regression and kernel crash behavior. The source bundle does not provide broader exploit telemetry, distribution-specific patch status, or proof of remote reachability. Validate exposure through kernel build, hardware, and MTD access checks.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply a vendor or kernel update containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Check Linux distribution advisories for backported patches to supported kernels.
  • Prioritize embedded and appliance systems using SST SPI-NOR flash.
  • Avoid affected kernel builds where reliable MTD writes are operationally critical.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory kernel versions against affected Linux 6.12, 6.13, and 6.14 lines.
  • Confirm whether systems use SST SPI-NOR flash through the MTD stack.
  • Review kernel logs for the reported SST write warning or crash trace.
  • Verify installed kernel source or package includes one referenced stable commit.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
7

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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ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2025-21845 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
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

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
1ADP providers
6Source links

SSVC decision data

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

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
5.5CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

5.5Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-21845Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxb925a5787b6e1d05731eb2dcc31dcaafc40ec2b6, b7cd63d13faef7ca5cf31ffa45ebf08829e4c9a7, 18bcb4aa54eab75dce41e5c176a1c2bff94f0f79, 18bcb4aa54eab75dce41e5c176a1c2bff94f0f79, 18bcb4aa54eab75dce41e5c176a1c2bff94f0f79unaffected
LinuxLinux6.12, 0, 6.12.17, 6.13.5, 6.14affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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