CVE-2025-21647: Linux kernel · sched: sch_cake: add bounds checks to host bulk flow fairness counts
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.3 High · fixed in 5.4.0-1146.156~18.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 12 Nov 2026, 19:10 UTC
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.4.0-1146.156~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1151.158~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1149.158~18.04.1 +83
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 19 Jan 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 12 Nov 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Patches and advisories
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7379-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7380-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7381-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7382-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7379-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7510-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7510-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7511-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7511-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7512-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7513-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7513-2 (opens in a new tab)
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-nvidiapkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A patch is available and included in Linux kernel versions 5.4.0-1146.156~18.04.1 and later listed fixed versions. Users should update to these fixed kernel versions or later to remediate the vulnerability. No additional mitigation actions are required beyond applying the official kernel updates.
Description
A logic error in the Linux kernel's sch_cake scheduler allowed underflow of per-host bulk flow counters, causing out-of-bounds memory access. The issue was fixed by adding bounds checks to these counters and consolidating related calculations into helper functions. This fix improves code safety and readability without affecting normal operation noticeably.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-21647 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-21647 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/737d4d91d35b5f7fa5bb442651472277318b0bfd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/27202e2e8721c3b23831563c36ed5ac7818641ba (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/737d4d91d35b5f7fa5bb442651472277318b0bfd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/91bb18950b88f955838ec0c1d97f74d135756dc7 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a777e06dfc72bed73c05dcb437d7c27ad5f90f3f (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7379-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7380-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7381-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7382-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7379-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7510-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7510-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7511-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7511-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7512-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7513-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7513-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7514-1 (opens in a new tab)