CVE-2025-21862: Linux kernel · drop_monitor: fix incorrect initialization order
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 5.4.0-1146.156~18.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 28 Oct 2026, 12:58 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:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 12 Mar 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: 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 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Patches and advisories
- 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-7516-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7516-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7517-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7518-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7521-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7510-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7510-4 (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 5.4.0-1146.156~18.04.1 and later. Users should apply the official kernel updates from their distribution vendors and reboot systems to ensure the fix is applied. No additional mitigation steps are required beyond updating to a fixed kernel version.
Description
CVE-2025-21862 is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's drop_monitor component caused by incorrect initialization order. When drop_monitor is built as a kernel module, a spinlock used by net_dm_monitor_start() may be accessed before it is initialized, leading to a kernel bug. This flaw was discovered by Syzkaller and fixed by reordering resource initialization before registering the generic netlink family. The issue affects multiple Linux kernel versions and has been addressed in several patched releases. The vulnerability has a medium severity score and does not have known exploits in the wild.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-21862 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-21862 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/07b598c0e6f06a0f254c88dafb4ad50f8a8c6eea (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/07b598c0e6f06a0f254c88dafb4ad50f8a8c6eea (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0efa6c42f81c60d8f72ba7f5ed8d4fec8c526282 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/219a47d0e6195bd202f22855e35f25bd15bc4d58 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b7859e8643e75619b2705b4fcac93ffd94d72b4a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/fcfc00bfec7bb6661074cb21356d05a4c9470a3c (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-7516-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7516-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7517-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7518-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7521-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7510-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7510-4 (opens in a new tab)