CVE-2025-21969: Linux kernel · Bluetooth: L2CAP: Fix slab-use-after-free Read in l2cap_send_cmd
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.8 High.
Data as of 30 Oct 2026, 14:06 UTC
Sources agree
| CNA (Linux) | CVSS 3.1 | 8.8 |
|---|---|---|
| CISA-ADP | CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 |
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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 30 Oct 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| Linux Linux | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
A fix is available and has been applied in Linux kernel version 5.17.14. Users and administrators should update to this or a later patched kernel version to remediate the vulnerability. No additional mitigation steps are indicated by the vendor advisory.
Description
CVE-2025-21969 is a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's Bluetooth L2CAP implementation. It occurs when the hci sync command releases an l2cap connection object, but the hci receive data work queue still references the released object, leading to a slab-use-after-free read. This flaw could allow an attacker to cause memory corruption with potential impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/967473b1e8bb6d941e034ec1f76de40ccf54a8cf (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c96cce853542b3b13da3738f35ef1be8cfcc9d1d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f8094625a591eeb0b75b1bd9e713fac1d93f5ca9 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7790a79c6fce8d5d552bc64f5c82819f719e4f28 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b4f82f9ed43aefa79bec2504ae8c29be0c0f5d1d (opens in a new tab)