CVE-2025-21883: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ice: Fix deinitializing VF in error path If ice_ena_vfs() fails after calling ic...

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ice: Fix deinitializing VF in error path If ice_ena_vfs() fails after calling ice_create_vf_entries(), it frees all VFs without removing them from snapshot PF-VF mailbox list, leading to list corruption. Reproducer: devlink dev eswitch set $PF1_PCI mode switchdev ip l s $PF1 up ip l s $PF1 promisc on sleep 1 echo 1 > /sys/class/net/$PF1/device/sriov_numvfs sleep 1 echo 1 > /sys/class/net/$PF1/device/sriov_numvfs Trace (minimized): list_add corruption. next->prev should be prev (ffff8882e241c6f0), but was 0000000000000000. (next=ffff888455da1330). kernel BUG at lib/list_debug.c:29! RIP: 0010:__list_add_valid_or_report+0xa6/0x100 ice_mbx_init_vf_info+0xa7/0x180 [ice] ice_initialize_vf_entry+0x1fa/0x250 [ice] ice_sriov_configure+0x8d7/0x1520 [ice] ? __percpu_ref_switch_mode+0x1b1/0x5d0 ? __pfx_ice_sriov_configure+0x10/0x10 [ice] Sometimes a KASAN report can be seen instead with a similar stack trace: BUG: KASAN: use-after-free in __list_add_valid_or_report+0xf1/0x100 VFs are added to this list in ice_mbx_init_vf_info(), but only removed in ice_free_vfs(). Move the removing to ice_free_vf_entries(), which is also being called in other places where VFs are being removed (including ice_free_vfs() itself).

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

7.8/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS Probability

0.18%

7.7th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-416

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions	Update
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 6.4, < 6.6.81	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 6.7, < 6.12.18	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 6.13, < 6.13.6	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	6.14	Rc1

References

Timeline

Published: Mar 27, 2025
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Analyzed

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-21883?

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ice: Fix deinitializing VF in error path If ice_ena_vfs() fails after calling ice_create_vf_entries(), it frees all VFs without removing them from snapshot PF-VF mailbox list, leading to list corruption. Reproducer: devlink dev eswitch set $PF1_PCI mode switchdev ip l s $PF1 up ip l s $PF1 promisc on sleep 1 echo 1 > /sys/class/net/$PF1/device/sriov_numvfs sleep 1 echo 1 > /sys/class/net/$PF1/device/sriov_numvfs Trace (minimized): list_add corruption. next->prev should be prev (ffff8882e241c6f0), but was 0000000000000000. (next=ffff888455da1330). kernel BUG at lib/list_debug.c:29! RIP: 0010:__list_add_valid_or_report+0xa6/0x100 ice_mbx_init_vf_info+0xa7/0x180 [ice] ice_initialize_vf_entry+0x1fa/0x250 [ice] ice_sriov_configure+0x8d7/0x1520 [ice] ? __percpu_ref_switch_mode+0x1b1/0x5d0 ? __pfx_ice_sriov_configure+0x10/0x10 [ice] Sometimes a KASAN report can be seen instead with a similar stack trace: BUG: KASAN: use-after-free in __list_add_valid_or_report+0xf1/0x100 VFs are added to this list in ice_mbx_init_vf_info(), but only removed in ice_free_vfs(). Move the removing to ice_free_vf_entries(), which is also being called in other places where VFs are being removed (including ice_free_vfs() itself).

How severe is CVE-2025-21883?

CVE-2025-21883 has a CVSS score of 7.8/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.18% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2025-21883?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.