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CVE Record

CVE-2025-21974: eth: bnxt: return fail if interface is down in bnxt_queue_mem_alloc()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: eth: bnxt: return fail if interface is down in bnxt_queue_mem_alloc() The bnxt_queue_mem_alloc() is called to allocate new queue memory when a queue is restarted. It internally accesses rx buffer descriptor corresponding to the index. The rx buffer descriptor is allocated and set when the interface is up and it's freed when the interface is down. So, if queue is restarted if interface is down, kernel panic occurs. Splat looks like: BUG: unable to handle page fault for address: 000000000000b240 #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode #PF: error_code(0x0000) - not-present page PGD 0 P4D 0 Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP NOPTI CPU: 3 UID: 0 PID: 1563 Comm: ncdevmem2 Not tainted 6.14.0-rc2+ #9 844ddba6e7c459cafd0bf4db9a3198e Hardware name: ASUS System Product Name/PRIME Z690-P D4, BIOS 0603 11/01/2021 RIP: 0010:bnxt_queue_mem_alloc+0x3f/0x4e0 [bnxt_en] Code: 41 54 4d 89 c4 4d 69 c0 c0 05 00 00 55 48 89 f5 53 48 89 fb 4c 8d b5 40 05 00 00 48 83 ec 15 RSP: 0018:ffff9dcc83fef9e8 EFLAGS: 00010202 RAX: ffffffffc0457720 RBX: ffff934ed8d40000 RCX: 0000000000000000 RDX: 000000000000001f RSI: ffff934ea508f800 RDI: ffff934ea508f808 RBP: ffff934ea508f800 R08: 000000000000b240 R09: ffff934e84f4b000 R10: ffff9dcc83fefa30 R11: ffff934e84f4b000 R12: 000000000000001f R13: ffff934ed8d40ac0 R14: ffff934ea508fd40 R15: ffff934e84f4b000 FS: 00007fa73888c740(0000) GS:ffff93559f780000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 000000000000b240 CR3: 0000000145a2e000 CR4: 00000000007506f0 PKRU: 55555554 Call Trace: <TASK> ? __die+0x20/0x70 ? page_fault_oops+0x15a/0x460 ? exc_page_fault+0x6e/0x180 ? asm_exc_page_fault+0x22/0x30 ? __pfx_bnxt_queue_mem_alloc+0x10/0x10 [bnxt_en 7f85e76f4d724ba07471d7e39d9e773aea6597b7] ? bnxt_queue_mem_alloc+0x3f/0x4e0 [bnxt_en 7f85e76f4d724ba07471d7e39d9e773aea6597b7] netdev_rx_queue_restart+0xc5/0x240 net_devmem_bind_dmabuf_to_queue+0xf8/0x200 netdev_nl_bind_rx_doit+0x3a7/0x450 genl_family_rcv_msg_doit+0xd9/0x130 genl_rcv_msg+0x184/0x2b0 ? __pfx_netdev_nl_bind_rx_doit+0x10/0x10 ? __pfx_genl_rcv_msg+0x10/0x10 netlink_rcv_skb+0x54/0x100 genl_rcv+0x24/0x40 ...

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot 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 a system when queue memory is allocated while a bnxt_en network interface is down. The documented impact is kernel panic, so the business concern is availability, not confirmed data theft. No active exploitation is reported in the provided sources.

Executive priority

Handle as a targeted availability risk. Patch affected bnxt_en Linux hosts through normal kernel update channels, with higher priority for production systems where network driver crashes would disrupt service.

Technical view

bnxt_queue_mem_alloc() may access an RX buffer descriptor that is only allocated while the interface is up. If a queue restart occurs after the interface is down, the driver can dereference freed or absent state and trigger a kernel page fault and panic.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions with the bnxt_en Ethernet driver and workflows that can restart queues while the interface is down. The bundle lists affected Linux versions including 6.11, 6.12.20, 6.13.8, and 6.14, but distribution backport status is not provided.

Exploitation context

The source bundle shows a crash trace and says the vulnerability is resolved in Linux stable commits. It does not provide CVSS, CWE, public exploit evidence, or KEV listing. Treat exploitation status as unconfirmed and focus validation on affected kernel and driver presence.

Researcher notes

Evidence is strongest for a NULL or invalid state access in bnxt_queue_mem_alloc during queue restart after interface teardown. The bundle does not establish remote reachability, privilege requirements, exploitability beyond panic, or distribution-specific package status.

Mitigation direction

  • Check Linux distribution advisories for kernels containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Apply an updated vendor kernel when available for affected systems.
  • Prioritize hosts using the bnxt_en driver for remediation.
  • Avoid relying on unsupported manual workarounds not named by vendor guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers and appliances.
  • Identify systems where the bnxt_en driver is present or in use.
  • Confirm whether installed kernels include the referenced stable commits.
  • Review crash logs for kernel panics involving bnxt_queue_mem_alloc or bnxt_en.
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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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
LinuxLinux2d694c27d32efc9467a8a20e4ad641ab5adfd07d, 2d694c27d32efc9467a8a20e4ad641ab5adfd07d, 2d694c27d32efc9467a8a20e4ad641ab5adfd07dunaffected
LinuxLinux6.11, 0, 6.12.20, 6.13.8, 6.14affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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