CVE-2025-21702
Linux Kernel pfifo_head_drop Scheduler Qdisc Vulnerability
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: pfifo_tail_enqueue: Drop new packet when sch->limit == 0 Expected behaviour: In case we reach scheduler's limit, pfifo_tail_enqueue() will drop a packet in scheduler's queue and decrease scheduler's qlen by one. Then, pfifo_tail_enqueue() enqueue new packet and increase scheduler's qlen by one. Finally, pfifo_tail_enqueue() return `NET_XMIT_CN` status code. Weird behaviour: In case we set `sch->limit == 0` and trigger pfifo_tail_enqueue() on a scheduler that has no packet, the 'drop a packet' step will do nothing. This means the scheduler's qlen still has value equal 0. Then, we continue to enqueue new packet and increase scheduler's qlen by one. In summary, we can leverage pfifo_tail_enqueue() to increase qlen by one and return `NET_XMIT_CN` status code. The problem is: Let's say we have two qdiscs: Qdisc_A and Qdisc_B. - Qdisc_A's type must have '->graft()' function to create parent/child relationship. Let's say Qdisc_A's type is `hfsc`. Enqueue packet to this qdisc will trigger `hfsc_enqueue`. - Qdisc_B's type is pfifo_head_drop. Enqueue packet to this qdisc will trigger `pfifo_tail_enqueue`. - Qdisc_B is configured to have `sch->limit == 0`. - Qdisc_A is configured to route the enqueued's packet to Qdisc_B. Enqueue packet through Qdisc_A will lead to: - hfsc_enqueue(Qdisc_A) -> pfifo_tail_enqueue(Qdisc_B) - Qdisc_B->q.qlen += 1 - pfifo_tail_enqueue() return `NET_XMIT_CN` - hfsc_enqueue() check for `NET_XMIT_SUCCESS` and see `NET_XMIT_CN` => hfsc_enqueue() don't increase qlen of Qdisc_A. The whole process lead to a situation where Qdisc_A->q.qlen == 0 and Qdisc_B->q.qlen == 1. Replace 'hfsc' with other type (for example: 'drr') still lead to the same problem. This violate the design where parent's qlen should equal to the sum of its childrens'qlen. Bug impact: This issue can be used for user->kernel privilege escalation when it is reachable.
INFO
Published Date :
Feb. 18, 2025, 3:15 p.m.
Last Modified :
March 13, 2025, 1:15 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
Source :
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2025-21702
.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2025-21702
is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2025-21702
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2025-21702
vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2025-21702
vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
-
CVE Modified by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Mar. 13, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/78285b53266d6d51fa4ff504a23df03852eba84e Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/79a955ea4a2e5ddf4a36328959de0de496419888 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7a9723ec27aff5674f1fd4934608937f1d650980 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a56a6e8589a9b98d8171611fbcc1e45a15fd2455 -
CVE Modified by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Mar. 07, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/020ecb76812a0526f4130ab5aeb6dc7c773e7ab9 -
New CVE Received by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Feb. 18, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: pfifo_tail_enqueue: Drop new packet when sch->limit == 0 Expected behaviour: In case we reach scheduler's limit, pfifo_tail_enqueue() will drop a packet in scheduler's queue and decrease scheduler's qlen by one. Then, pfifo_tail_enqueue() enqueue new packet and increase scheduler's qlen by one. Finally, pfifo_tail_enqueue() return `NET_XMIT_CN` status code. Weird behaviour: In case we set `sch->limit == 0` and trigger pfifo_tail_enqueue() on a scheduler that has no packet, the 'drop a packet' step will do nothing. This means the scheduler's qlen still has value equal 0. Then, we continue to enqueue new packet and increase scheduler's qlen by one. In summary, we can leverage pfifo_tail_enqueue() to increase qlen by one and return `NET_XMIT_CN` status code. The problem is: Let's say we have two qdiscs: Qdisc_A and Qdisc_B. - Qdisc_A's type must have '->graft()' function to create parent/child relationship. Let's say Qdisc_A's type is `hfsc`. Enqueue packet to this qdisc will trigger `hfsc_enqueue`. - Qdisc_B's type is pfifo_head_drop. Enqueue packet to this qdisc will trigger `pfifo_tail_enqueue`. - Qdisc_B is configured to have `sch->limit == 0`. - Qdisc_A is configured to route the enqueued's packet to Qdisc_B. Enqueue packet through Qdisc_A will lead to: - hfsc_enqueue(Qdisc_A) -> pfifo_tail_enqueue(Qdisc_B) - Qdisc_B->q.qlen += 1 - pfifo_tail_enqueue() return `NET_XMIT_CN` - hfsc_enqueue() check for `NET_XMIT_SUCCESS` and see `NET_XMIT_CN` => hfsc_enqueue() don't increase qlen of Qdisc_A. The whole process lead to a situation where Qdisc_A->q.qlen == 0 and Qdisc_B->q.qlen == 1. Replace 'hfsc' with other type (for example: 'drr') still lead to the same problem. This violate the design where parent's qlen should equal to the sum of its childrens'qlen. Bug impact: This issue can be used for user->kernel privilege escalation when it is reachable. Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/647cef20e649c576dff271e018d5d15d998b629d Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b6a079c3b6f95378f26e2aeda520cb3176f7067b Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e40cb34b7f247fe2e366fd192700d1b4f38196ca