CVE-2025-21635

Kernel crash via exiting-task namespace null dereference

Published Jan 19, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

A null pointer dereference in Linux kernel RDS TCP sysctls allows local users to crash the kernel during task exit via acct(2). The rds_tcp_{rcv,snd}buf sysctl handlers read a network namespace through current->nsproxy even though that pointer can be NULL while the current task exits, causing a kernel Oops. Reachability requires local low-privileged access and execution of the affected RDS sysctl path during task teardown; the reported consequence is a kernel crash, not data disclosure or modification.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A null pointer dereference in Linux kernel RDS TCP sysctls allows local users to crash the kernel during task exit via acct(2). The rds_tcp_{rcv,snd}buf sysctl handlers read a network namespace through current->nsproxy even though that pointer can be NULL while the current task exits, causing a kernel Oops. Reachability requires local low-privileged access and execution of the affected RDS sysctl path during task teardown; the reported consequence is a kernel crash, not data disclosure or modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-21635
Published
Jan 19, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 19, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=4.6
  2. Affected versionversion=c6a58ffed53612be86b758df1cdb0b0f4305e9cb <7f5611cbc4871c7fb1ad36c2e5a9edad63dca95c
  3. Affected versionversion=c6a58ffed53612be86b758df1cdb0b0f4305e9cb <de8d6de0ee27be4b2b1e5b06f04aeacbabbba492

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.6; version=c6a58ffed53612be86b758df1cdb0b0f4305e9cb <7f5611cbc4871c7fb1ad36c2e5a9edad63dca95c; version=c6a58ffed53612be86b758df1cdb0b0f4305e9cb <de8d6de0ee27be4b2b1e5b06f04aeacbabbba492

Published CVSS scores

6.8SUSECVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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