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CVE Record

CVE-2025-21933: arm: pgtable: fix NULL pointer dereference issue

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: arm: pgtable: fix NULL pointer dereference issue When update_mmu_cache_range() is called by update_mmu_cache(), the vmf parameter is NULL, which will cause a NULL pointer dereference issue in adjust_pte(): Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 00000030 when read Hardware name: Atmel AT91SAM9 PC is at update_mmu_cache_range+0x1e0/0x278 LR is at pte_offset_map_rw_nolock+0x18/0x2c Call trace: update_mmu_cache_range from remove_migration_pte+0x29c/0x2ec remove_migration_pte from rmap_walk_file+0xcc/0x130 rmap_walk_file from remove_migration_ptes+0x90/0xa4 remove_migration_ptes from migrate_pages_batch+0x6d4/0x858 migrate_pages_batch from migrate_pages+0x188/0x488 migrate_pages from compact_zone+0x56c/0x954 compact_zone from compact_node+0x90/0xf0 compact_node from kcompactd+0x1d4/0x204 kcompactd from kthread+0x120/0x12c kthread from ret_from_fork+0x14/0x38 Exception stack(0xc0d8bfb0 to 0xc0d8bff8) To fix it, do not rely on whether 'ptl' is equal to decide whether to hold the pte lock, but decide it by whether CONFIG_SPLIT_PTE_PTLOCKS is enabled. In addition, if two vmas map to the same PTE page, there is no need to hold the pte lock again, otherwise a deadlock will occur. Just add the need_lock parameter to let adjust_pte() know this information.

MediumCVSS 5.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel availability flaw on ARM. A local user could trigger a kernel NULL pointer dereference in memory-management code, causing a crash or denial of service. The public record rates it medium severity and does not report data theft or privilege escalation.

Executive priority

Treat as a moderate patching item where ARM Linux availability matters. It should not displace remotely exploitable critical issues, but production or embedded systems with uptime requirements should be updated promptly.

Technical view

The bug is a CWE-476 NULL pointer dereference in ARM page-table handling. update_mmu_cache_range() can receive a NULL vmf from update_mmu_cache(), then adjust_pte() dereferences state incorrectly during migration/compaction paths. The fix changes pte-lock decision logic and passes need_lock into adjust_pte().

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on ARM Linux systems running affected 6.13-era kernels identified in the CVE record. Business exposure is primarily service disruption on affected hosts or embedded devices, not confidentiality or integrity loss.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, with high availability impact. The source bundle says KEV is false, and no provided source supports active exploitation in the wild.

Researcher notes

The public evidence describes a crash path and locking fix, not a weaponized exploit. Validate exposure by kernel lineage and patch presence, because distribution backports may fix the issue without changing the upstream version number.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply a vendor or distribution kernel update that includes the referenced stable fixes.
  • Prioritize externally important ARM systems and embedded devices running affected 6.13-era kernels.
  • If no package is available, check vendor guidance for supported backport status.
  • Monitor affected systems for kernel oops or panic events until patched.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory ARM Linux hosts and record exact kernel versions and build sources.
  • Compare versions against the CVE record and distribution advisories.
  • Verify whether the referenced stable commit is present in deployed kernel source.
  • Review kernel logs for traces naming update_mmu_cache_range, remove_migration_pte, migrate_pages, or kcompactd.
Prepared
Confidence
high
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

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

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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-476: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2025-21933 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
3Source 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-2025-21933Attack 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
LinuxLinuxfc9c45b71f43cafcc0435dd4c7a2d3b99955a0fa, fc9c45b71f43cafcc0435dd4c7a2d3b99955a0faunaffected
LinuxLinux6.13, 0, 6.13.7, 6.14affected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-476

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

CWE-476 · source CWE mapping

NULL Pointer Dereference

NULL Pointer Dereference represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

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