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CVE Record

CVE-2025-21939: drm/xe/hmm: Don't dereference struct page pointers without notifier lock

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/xe/hmm: Don't dereference struct page pointers without notifier lock The pnfs that we obtain from hmm_range_fault() point to pages that we don't have a reference on, and the guarantee that they are still in the cpu page-tables is that the notifier lock must be held and the notifier seqno is still valid. So while building the sg table and marking the pages accesses / dirty we need to hold this lock with a validated seqno. However, the lock is reclaim tainted which makes sg_alloc_table_from_pages_segment() unusable, since it internally allocates memory. Instead build the sg-table manually. For the non-iommu case this might lead to fewer coalesces, but if that's a problem it can be fixed up later in the resource cursor code. For the iommu case, the whole sg-table may still be coalesced to a single contigous device va region. This avoids marking pages that we don't own dirty and accessed, and it also avoid dereferencing struct pages that we don't own. v2: - Use assert to check whether hmm pfns are valid (Matthew Auld) - Take into account that large pages may cross range boundaries (Matthew Auld) v3: - Don't unnecessarily check for a non-freed sg-table. (Matthew Auld) - Add a missing up_read() in an error path. (Matthew Auld) (cherry picked from commit ea3e66d280ce2576664a862693d1da8fd324c317)

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux kernel flaw in the Xe graphics memory-management path can access page metadata without the required synchronization. A local, low-privileged user may be able to trigger memory corruption affecting confidentiality, integrity, or availability. This is not described as remotely exploitable.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority targeted kernel update, especially for shared workstations, development hosts, and systems running untrusted local workloads. It is less urgent than an internet-exploitable flaw, but the stated potential impact spans data exposure, modification, and system failure.

Technical view

The drm/xe HMM implementation used page pointers returned by hmm_range_fault() without holding the notifier lock and validating its sequence number. Concurrent page-table changes could therefore leave stale or unowned struct page pointers dereferenced or marked dirty. The resolution builds the scatter-gather table while maintaining the required synchronization.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to systems running an affected Linux kernel and exercising the drm/xe HMM path. The supplied record lists Linux 6.10, 6.12.19, 6.13.7, and 6.14 as affected, but its version data includes an ambiguous “0”; confirm exact distribution applicability with the vendor.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector requires local access and low privileges, with no user interaction. The bundle marks this CVE as absent from KEV and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation. Practical exploitability and reliability are not established by the supplied sources.

Researcher notes

The core issue is a lifetime and synchronization failure around HMM-derived page pointers and MMU-notifier sequencing. The sources provide fixes but no CWE classification, crash signature, proof of concept, or confirmed exploitation. Version applicability should be resolved through distribution advisories because the supplied affected-version representation is incomplete or ambiguous.

Mitigation direction

  • Install a vendor-supported kernel containing the referenced stable fix or its documented downstream equivalent.
  • Check the Linux distribution’s security advisory for exact affected and corrected package versions.
  • Prioritize updates on multi-user systems or hosts running untrusted local workloads.
  • Restrict unnecessary local accounts and untrusted workload access while remediation is pending.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions on systems using the Linux Xe graphics driver.
  • Compare installed package versions with the applicable distribution security advisory.
  • Verify the deployed kernel contains a referenced stable fix or documented downstream backport.
  • After updating, confirm systems booted into the corrected kernel rather than an older installed image.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

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-2025-21939 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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
0ADP providers
4Source links

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
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-21939Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux81e058a3e7fd8593d076b4f26f7b8bb49f1d61e3, 81e058a3e7fd8593d076b4f26f7b8bb49f1d61e3, 81e058a3e7fd8593d076b4f26f7b8bb49f1d61e3unaffected
LinuxLinux6.10, 0, 6.12.19, 6.13.7, 6.14affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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