CVE-2025-21839: Linux kernel · KVM: x86: Load DR6 with guest value only before entering .vcpu_run() loop
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.3 High · fixed in 5.15.0-1088.95~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 12 Nov 2026, 19:32 UTC
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1088.95~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1094.103~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1087.96~20.04.2 +60
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 7 Mar 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-7521-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7521-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7521-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7654-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7654-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7654-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7655-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7654-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7654-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7686-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7703-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7703-2 (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 has been released in multiple Linux kernel versions including 5.15.0-1088.95~20.04.1 and later. Users should apply these kernel updates to remediate the vulnerability. No additional mitigation steps are required beyond applying the official fixes provided by the vendor.
Description
CVE-2025-21839 is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's KVM subsystem for x86 architectures. It involves improper handling of the debug register DR6 during virtual CPU execution, where stale DR6 values can be loaded into hardware under certain conditions, particularly affecting nested virtualization scenarios. This can cause the guest's actual DR6 value to be overwritten, potentially impacting the integrity of debug register operations. The issue has been fixed in multiple Linux kernel versions.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-21839 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-21839 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/c2fee09fc167c74a64adb08656cb993ea475197e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4eb063de686bfcdfd03a8c801d1bbe87d2d5eb55 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c2fee09fc167c74a64adb08656cb993ea475197e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d456de38d9eb753a4e9fde053c18d4ef8e485339 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7521-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7521-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7521-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7654-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7654-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7654-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7655-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7654-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7654-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7686-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7703-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7703-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7703-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7711-1 (opens in a new tab)