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CVE Record

CVE-2025-39821: perf: Avoid undefined behavior from stopping/starting inactive events

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: perf: Avoid undefined behavior from stopping/starting inactive events Calling pmu->start()/stop() on perf events in PERF_EVENT_STATE_OFF can leave event->hw.idx at -1. When PMU drivers later attempt to use this negative index as a shift exponent in bitwise operations, it leads to UBSAN shift-out-of-bounds reports. The issue is a logical flaw in how event groups handle throttling when some members are intentionally disabled. Based on the analysis and the reproducer provided by Mark Rutland (this issue on both arm64 and x86-64). The scenario unfolds as follows: 1. A group leader event is configured with a very aggressive sampling period (e.g., sample_period = 1). This causes frequent interrupts and triggers the throttling mechanism. 2. A child event in the same group is created in a disabled state (.disabled = 1). This event remains in PERF_EVENT_STATE_OFF. Since it hasn't been scheduled onto the PMU, its event->hw.idx remains initialized at -1. 3. When throttling occurs, perf_event_throttle_group() and later perf_event_unthrottle_group() iterate through all siblings, including the disabled child event. 4. perf_event_throttle()/unthrottle() are called on this inactive child event, which then call event->pmu->start()/stop(). 5. The PMU driver receives the event with hw.idx == -1 and attempts to use it as a shift exponent. e.g., in macros like PMCNTENSET(idx), leading to the UBSAN report. The throttling mechanism attempts to start/stop events that are not actively scheduled on the hardware. Move the state check into perf_event_throttle()/perf_event_unthrottle() so that inactive events are skipped entirely. This ensures only active events with a valid hw.idx are processed, preventing undefined behavior and silencing UBSAN warnings. The corrected check ensures true before proceeding with PMU operations. The problem can be reproduced with the syzkaller reproducer:

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A local, low-privileged user can trigger incorrect Linux performance-monitoring behavior involving disabled events. The kernel may pass an invalid hardware index to processor-specific code, causing undefined bit-shift operations. The supplied CVSS rating is 7.8 (high), although the sources demonstrate UBSAN warnings rather than a confirmed path to system compromise.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority kernel maintenance issue for shared or otherwise locally accessible systems. Schedule vendor-approved updates promptly, but avoid emergency internet-facing-incident assumptions: exploitation requires local access, and the supplied evidence does not show active exploitation or confirmed compromise.

Technical view

Perf event group throttling and unthrottling processed sibling events still in PERF_EVENT_STATE_OFF. Their unscheduled hardware index remained -1, which PMU drivers could use as a shift exponent, producing undefined behavior. The correction moves state validation into the throttle and unthrottle functions so inactive events are skipped. The issue was reproduced on arm64 and x86-64.

Likely exposure

Systems running affected Linux 6.16-series versions may be exposed when local users can create and manipulate perf event groups. The supplied affected-version data is ambiguous around exact boundaries, so distribution backports and kernel build provenance must be checked individually.

Exploitation context

The issue requires local access with low privileges according to the supplied CVSS vector. A syzkaller reproducer and UBSAN reports exist, but no exploit procedure is provided. The CVE is not listed as KEV, and the supplied sources do not establish active exploitation or demonstrated confidentiality, integrity, or availability impact.

Researcher notes

The documented failure is an invalid negative shift index arising from lifecycle-state confusion, while the supplied classification is CWE-787. Assess the underlying undefined behavior independently from the CVSS impact claims. Exact affected and fixed release boundaries cannot be confidently derived from the supplied version array; inspect stable commits and distribution backports.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply a vendor-supported kernel containing the referenced perf event state-check correction.
  • Consult the Linux distribution or appliance vendor for exact fixed package versions and backport status.
  • Prioritize multi-user systems where untrusted local users can access performance-monitoring facilities.
  • Use vendor-recommended access restrictions as temporary risk reduction if immediate kernel updating is unavailable.

Validation and detection

  • Record the running kernel version, architecture, distribution package release, and patch provenance.
  • Compare installed kernel sources or vendor changelogs with the two referenced stable corrections.
  • Confirm whether untrusted local users can access perf event functionality under current security policy.
  • After updating, verify the running kernel includes the correction and review logs for related UBSAN reports.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
4

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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ATT&CK lookup starting points

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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-787: Exact CWE lookup

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Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2025-39821 mapping review

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Open ATT&CK lookup
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.

2CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
3Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: total

CVSS vector scores

2 official scores

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

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-39821Attack 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.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
cvssV3_1other:ssvc
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux9734e25fbf5ae68eb04234b2cd14a4b36ab89141, 9734e25fbf5ae68eb04234b2cd14a4b36ab89141unaffected
LinuxLinux6.16, 0, 6.16.5, 6.17affected
Weakness

CWE details

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

CWE-787 · source CWE mapping

Out-of-bounds Write

Out-of-bounds Write represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.