CVE-2025-21897: Linux kernel · sched_ext: Fix pick_task_scx() picking non-queued tasks when it's called without
Source GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium.
Data as of 29 Oct 2026, 23:33 UTC
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 1 Apr 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 29 Oct 2026.
What to do
AI-suggested
A fix for this issue has been implemented in the Linux kernel. Users should apply the official kernel update that includes this correction. No additional mitigation steps are indicated.
Description
CVE-2025-21897 is a medium severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel scheduler extension (sched_ext). It involves the pick_task_scx() function incorrectly selecting non-runnable tasks under certain conditions, leading to potential deadlocks caused by tasks being in an inconsistent state (not on runqueue but marked on CPU). This flaw arises from improper checks in the workaround code for cases where pick_task_scx() is called without a preceding balance_scx() call. The issue has been fixed by correcting the condition to check if the task is actually queued.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-21897 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5324c459f90d16b0c43a78b494c598915d782b7a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8fef0a3b17bb258130a4fcbcb5addf94b25e9ec5 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/de60a31cb0bcacfaf9487546eac5e70e0a9c66d7 (opens in a new tab)