CVE-2025-21946Network attack vector

Kernel memory disclosure via unchecked security-descriptor offsets

Published Apr 1, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Out-of-bounds read in Linux ksmbd 5.15 allows remote authenticated users to disclose kernel memory through crafted SMB requests. parse_sec_desc() trusts security-descriptor offsets and SID subauthority counts without bounding them to the request buffer, so sub_auth[] is read out of bounds. Exploitation requires a writable share and open file handle and can disclose heap data, alter file ownership metadata, or crash the service or host.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.48%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds read in Linux ksmbd 5.15 allows remote authenticated users to disclose kernel memory through crafted SMB requests. parse_sec_desc() trusts security-descriptor offsets and SID subauthority counts without bounding them to the request buffer, so sub_auth[] is read out of bounds. Exploitation requires a writable share and open file handle and can disclose heap data, alter file ownership metadata, or crash the service or host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-21946
Published
Apr 1, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-125, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 1, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 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=0626e6641f6b467447c81dd7678a69c66f7746cf <159d059cbcb0e6d0e7a7b34af3862ba09a6b22d1
  2. Affected versionversion=0626e6641f6b467447c81dd7678a69c66f7746cf <6a9831180d0b23b5c97e2bd841aefc8f82900172
  3. Affected versionversion=0626e6641f6b467447c81dd7678a69c66f7746cf <c1569dbbe2d43041be9f3fef7ca08bec3b66ad1b
  4. Affected versionversion=0626e6641f6b467447c81dd7678a69c66f7746cf <d6e13e19063db24f94b690159d0633aaf72a0f03
  5. Affected versionversion=0626e6641f6b467447c81dd7678a69c66f7746cf <f4ee19528664777af8b842f8f001be98345aa973
  6. Affected versionversion=5.15

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=0626e6641f6b467447c81dd7678a69c66f7746cf <159d059cbcb0e6d0e7a7b34af3862ba09a6b22d1; version=0626e6641f6b467447c81dd7678a69c66f7746cf <6a9831180d0b23b5c97e2bd841aefc8f82900172; version=0626e6641f6b467447c81dd7678a69c66f7746cf <c1569dbbe2d43041be9f3fef7ca08bec3b66ad1b; version=0626e6641f6b467447c81dd7678a69c66f7746cf <d6e13e19063db24f94b690159d0633aaf72a0f03; version=0626e6641f6b467447c81dd7678a69c66f7746cf <f4ee19528664777af8b842f8f001be98345aa973; version=5.15

Published CVSS scores

7.1NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H
8.8Linux CNACVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-125Out-of-bounds Read
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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