CVE-2025-21920: Linux kernel · vlan: enforce underlying device type
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.1 High · fixed in 5.4.0-1146.156~18.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 28 Oct 2026, 12:56 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 +88
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 1 Apr 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-7510-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7510-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7510-5 (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 fixed Linux kernel versions including 5.4.0-1146.156~18.04.1 and later. Users should apply the official Linux kernel updates provided by their distribution, such as the Ubuntu security notice USN-7510-1, and reboot their systems to ensure the fix is applied. No additional mitigation steps are required beyond applying the official patch.
Description
CVE-2025-21920 is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's VLAN device initialization that allows VLAN devices to be created on non-ethernet devices, causing an out-of-bounds read and leaking a kernel function address to user mode. This occurs because multicast addresses used during initialization are only 6 bytes long, but the underlying device's address length can be greater, leading to memory disclosure. The issue is fixed by enforcing the underlying device type during VLAN device creation.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-21920 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-21920 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/b33a534610067ade2bdaf2052900aaad99701353 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0fb7aa04c19eac4417f360a9f7611a60637bdacc (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/30e8aee77899173a82ae5ed89f536c096f20aaeb (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3561442599804905c3defca241787cd4546e99a7 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5a515d13e15536e82c5c7c83eb6cf5bc4827fee5 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7f1564b2b2072b7aa1ac75350e9560a07c7a44fd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b33a534610067ade2bdaf2052900aaad99701353 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b6c72479748b7ea09f53ed64b223cee6463dc278 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/fa40ebef69234e39ec2d26930d045f2fb9a8cb2b (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)