CVE-2025-21855: Linux kernel · ibmvnic: Don't reference skb after sending to VIOS
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.6 High · fixed in 4.4.0-1150.156 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 30 Oct 2026, 23:12 UTC
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 4.4.0-1150.156, 4.15.0-1195.210~14.04.1, 4.4.0-276.310~14.04.1 +104
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 12 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 30 Oct 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-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-7719-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7703-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7737-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7907-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7907-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7907-3 (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 4.4.0-1150.156, 4.15.0-1195.210~14.04.1, and others. Users and administrators should update their Linux kernel to one of the fixed versions to remediate this vulnerability. No additional mitigations are required beyond applying the official kernel updates.
Description
CVE-2025-21855 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the ibmvnic driver of the Linux kernel. The flaw occurs because the driver references the socket buffer (skb) after it has been sent to the Virtual I/O Server (VIOS), which can free the skb memory asynchronously. This race condition can lead to a kernel memory corruption and potential system compromise. The issue affects multiple Linux kernel versions and has been fixed in several updated releases.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-21855 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-21855 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/bdf5d13aa05ec314d4385b31ac974d6c7e0997c9 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/093b0e5c90592773863f300b908b741622eef597 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/25dddd01dcc8ef3acff964dbb32eeb0d89f098e9 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/501ac6a7e21b82e05207c6b4449812d82820f306 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/abaff2717470e4b5b7c0c3a90e128b211a23da09 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/bdf5d13aa05ec314d4385b31ac974d6c7e0997c9 (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-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-7719-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7703-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7737-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7907-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7907-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7907-3 (opens in a new tab)