CVE-2025-21977: fbdev: hyperv_fb: Fix hang in kdump kernel when on Hyper-V Gen 2 VMs
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
fbdev: hyperv_fb: Fix hang in kdump kernel when on Hyper-V Gen 2 VMs
Gen 2 Hyper-V VMs boot via EFI and have a standard EFI framebuffer
device. When the kdump kernel runs in such a VM, loading the efifb
driver may hang because of accessing the framebuffer at the wrong
memory address.
The scenario occurs when the hyperv_fb driver in the original kernel
moves the framebuffer to a different MMIO address because of conflicts
with an already-running efifb or simplefb driver. The hyperv_fb driver
then informs Hyper-V of the change, which is allowed by the Hyper-V FB
VMBus device protocol. However, when the kexec command loads the kdump
kernel into crash memory via the kexec_file_load() system call, the
system call doesn't know the framebuffer has moved, and it sets up the
kdump screen_info using the original framebuffer address. The transition
to the kdump kernel does not go through the Hyper-V host, so Hyper-V
does not reset the framebuffer address like it would do on a reboot.
When efifb tries to run, it accesses a non-existent framebuffer
address, which traps to the Hyper-V host. After many such accesses,
the Hyper-V host thinks the guest is being malicious, and throttles
the guest to the point that it runs very slowly or appears to have hung.
When the kdump kernel is loaded into crash memory via the kexec_load()
system call, the problem does not occur. In this case, the kexec command
builds the screen_info table itself in user space from data returned
by the FBIOGET_FSCREENINFO ioctl against /dev/fb0, which gives it the
new framebuffer location.
This problem was originally reported in 2020 [1], resulting in commit
3cb73bc3fa2a ("hyperv_fb: Update screen_info after removing old
framebuffer"). This commit solved the problem by setting orig_video_isVGA
to 0, so the kdump kernel was unaware of the EFI framebuffer. The efifb
driver did not try to load, and no hang occurred. But in 2024, commit
c25a19afb81c ("fbdev/hyperv_fb: Do not clear global screen_info")
effectively reverted 3cb73bc3fa2a. Commit c25a19afb81c has no reference
to 3cb73bc3fa2a, so perhaps it was done without knowing the implications
that were reported with 3cb73bc3fa2a. In any case, as of commit
c25a19afb81c, the original problem came back again.
Interestingly, the hyperv_drm driver does not have this problem because
it never moves the framebuffer. The difference is that the hyperv_drm
driver removes any conflicting framebuffers *before* allocating an MMIO
address, while the hyperv_fb drivers removes conflicting framebuffers
*after* allocating an MMIO address. With the "after" ordering, hyperv_fb
may encounter a conflict and move the framebuffer to a different MMIO
address. But the conflict is essentially bogus because it is removed
a few lines of code later.
Rather than fix the problem with the approach from 2020 in commit
3cb73bc3fa2a, instead slightly reorder the steps in hyperv_fb so
conflicting framebuffers are removed before allocating an MMIO address.
Then the default framebuffer MMIO address should always be available, and
there's never any confusion about which framebuffer address the kdump
kernel should use -- it's always the original address provided by
the Hyper-V host. This approach is already used by the hyperv_drm
driver, and is consistent with the usage guidelines at the head of
the module with the function aperture_remove_conflicting_devices().
This approach also solves a related minor problem when kexec_load()
is used to load the kdump kernel. With current code, unbinding and
rebinding the hyperv_fb driver could result in the framebuffer moving
back to the default framebuffer address, because on the rebind there
are no conflicts. If such a move is done after the kdump kernel is
loaded with the new framebuffer address, at kdump time it could again
have the wrong address.
This problem and fix are described in terms of the kdump kernel, but
it can also occur
---truncated---
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Linux kernel issue can make crash-dump recovery hang on Hyper-V Generation 2 virtual machines. The business impact is mainly failed diagnostics during a kernel crash, which can slow incident response and root-cause analysis. The source bundle does not show data theft, remote compromise, or active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat as a targeted reliability fix for virtualized Linux recovery operations. Patch on normal kernel-maintenance timelines, faster for systems where crash forensics, regulatory evidence, or production recovery depends on kdump.
Technical view
In hyperv_fb, framebuffer MMIO relocation can leave kdump screen_info pointing at the original EFI framebuffer address when kdump is loaded through kexec_file_load(). efifb then accesses a non-existent address, causing Hyper-V host throttling and an apparent kdump kernel hang. Stable commits reorder framebuffer conflict removal before MMIO allocation.
Likely exposure
Exposure appears limited to Linux kernels on Hyper-V Gen 2 VMs using hyperv_fb, EFI framebuffer behavior, and kdump paths affected by kexec_file_load(). The bundle lists Linux kernel versions including 6.8, 6.12.20, 6.13.8, and 6.14 as affected, but distributor backports may change exposure.
Exploitation context
The bundle marks KEV false and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation. This is an operational reliability vulnerability, triggered around crash-dump kernel loading and framebuffer handling, not a documented remote attack path.
Researcher notes
The key condition is stale kdump screen_info after hyperv_fb moves the framebuffer MMIO address. The fix aligns hyperv_fb ordering with hyperv_drm behavior by removing conflicting framebuffers before MMIO allocation. Evidence is limited to the CVE record and kernel stable references.
Mitigation direction
Apply vendor or stable kernel updates containing the referenced hyperv_fb fixes.
Prioritize Hyper-V Gen 2 Linux VMs where kdump reliability is required.
Check distribution advisories before assuming upstream version numbers map directly.
Where supported, avoid affected kexec_file_load kdump paths until patched.
Validation and detection
Inventory Linux Hyper-V Gen 2 VMs and identify kernel versions in use.
Confirm whether hyperv_fb, efifb, and kdump are enabled on those systems.
Check whether referenced stable commits are present or backported.
Test crash-dump collection in staging after kernel updates.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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Apr 1, 2025, 15:47 UTC (UTC+00:00)
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