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CVE Record

CVE-2025-21870: ASoC: SOF: ipc4-topology: Harden loops for looking up ALH copiers

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ASoC: SOF: ipc4-topology: Harden loops for looking up ALH copiers Other, non DAI copier widgets could have the same stream name (sname) as the ALH copier and in that case the copier->data is NULL, no alh_data is attached, which could lead to NULL pointer dereference. We could check for this NULL pointer in sof_ipc4_prepare_copier_module() and avoid the crash, but a similar loop in sof_ipc4_widget_setup_comp_dai() will miscalculate the ALH device count, causing broken audio. The correct fix is to harden the matching logic by making sure that the 1. widget is a DAI widget - so dai = w->private is valid 2. the dai (and thus the copier) is ALH copier

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2025-21870 is a Linux kernel audio subsystem bug. Under specific Sound Open Firmware topology conditions, the kernel can dereference a missing pointer, potentially causing a crash or broken audio behavior. The sources do not provide CVSS, remote attackability, privilege requirements, or evidence of exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat this as a routine kernel maintenance issue unless affected Linux audio paths are business-critical. The available evidence supports operational reliability concern, but not emergency response or active exploitation handling.

Technical view

The issue affects ASoC SOF ipc4-topology ALH copier lookup logic. Matching only by stream name can select a non-DAI copier widget whose data is NULL. The fix hardens matching so the widget is DAI-backed and the copier is actually an ALH copier.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems using the affected SOF IPC4 audio topology paths. The source bundle lists Linux kernel versions including 6.0, 6.12.17, 6.13.5, and 6.14 as affected, but does not define distribution package status.

Exploitation context

No active exploitation is indicated. The CVE is not marked KEV, and the provided sources describe a reliability flaw leading to NULL pointer dereference or broken audio, not a public exploit path.

Researcher notes

The record lacks CVSS, CWE, attack vector, and privilege details. Analysis should stay close to the kernel commit rationale: ambiguous stream-name matching can select the wrong widget type, leaving copier data absent and causing NULL dereference or ALH count errors.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply vendor kernel updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Check Linux distribution advisories for package-specific fixed versions.
  • Prioritize systems using SOF IPC4 audio hardware or ALH copier paths.
  • If patching is delayed, monitor for kernel audio crashes and instability.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across affected endpoints and appliances.
  • Check whether deployed kernels include the referenced stable commits.
  • Review distribution security trackers for CVE-2025-21870 package status.
  • Confirm affected systems use SOF IPC4 audio topology paths where relevant.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

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-2025-21870 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
4Source 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
LinuxLinuxa150345aa758492e05d2934f318ce7c2566b1cfe, a150345aa758492e05d2934f318ce7c2566b1cfe, a150345aa758492e05d2934f318ce7c2566b1cfeunaffected
LinuxLinux6.0, 0, 6.12.17, 6.13.5, 6.14affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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