CVE-2025-21926: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: gso: fix ownership in __udp_gso_segment In __udp_gso_segment the skb destru...

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: gso: fix ownership in __udp_gso_segment In __udp_gso_segment the skb destructor is removed before segmenting the skb but the socket reference is kept as-is. This is an issue if the original skb is later orphaned as we can hit the following bug: kernel BUG at ./include/linux/skbuff.h:3312! (skb_orphan) RIP: 0010:ip_rcv_core+0x8b2/0xca0 Call Trace: ip_rcv+0xab/0x6e0 __netif_receive_skb_one_core+0x168/0x1b0 process_backlog+0x384/0x1100 __napi_poll.constprop.0+0xa1/0x370 net_rx_action+0x925/0xe50 The above can happen following a sequence of events when using OpenVSwitch, when an OVS_ACTION_ATTR_USERSPACE action precedes an OVS_ACTION_ATTR_OUTPUT action: 1. OVS_ACTION_ATTR_USERSPACE is handled (in do_execute_actions): the skb goes through queue_gso_packets and then __udp_gso_segment, where its destructor is removed. 2. The segments' data are copied and sent to userspace. 3. OVS_ACTION_ATTR_OUTPUT is handled (in do_execute_actions) and the same original skb is sent to its path. 4. If it later hits skb_orphan, we hit the bug. Fix this by also removing the reference to the socket in __udp_gso_segment.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

5.5/10

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

EPSS Probability

0.19%

8.4th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions	Update
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 4.18, < 5.4.291	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 5.5, < 5.10.235	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 5.11, < 5.15.179	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 5.16, < 6.1.131	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 6.2, < 6.6.83	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 6.7, < 6.12.19	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 6.13, < 6.13.7	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	6.14	Rc1

References

Timeline

Published: Apr 1, 2025
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-21926?

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: gso: fix ownership in __udp_gso_segment In __udp_gso_segment the skb destructor is removed before segmenting the skb but the socket reference is kept as-is. This is an issue if the original skb is later orphaned as we can hit the following bug: kernel BUG at ./include/linux/skbuff.h:3312! (skb_orphan) RIP: 0010:ip_rcv_core+0x8b2/0xca0 Call Trace: ip_rcv+0xab/0x6e0 __netif_receive_skb_one_core+0x168/0x1b0 process_backlog+0x384/0x1100 __napi_poll.constprop.0+0xa1/0x370 net_rx_action+0x925/0xe50 The above can happen following a sequence of events when using OpenVSwitch, when an OVS_ACTION_ATTR_USERSPACE action precedes an OVS_ACTION_ATTR_OUTPUT action: 1. OVS_ACTION_ATTR_USERSPACE is handled (in do_execute_actions): the skb goes through queue_gso_packets and then __udp_gso_segment, where its destructor is removed. 2. The segments' data are copied and sent to userspace. 3. OVS_ACTION_ATTR_OUTPUT is handled (in do_execute_actions) and the same original skb is sent to its path. 4. If it later hits skb_orphan, we hit the bug. Fix this by also removing the reference to the socket in __udp_gso_segment.

How severe is CVE-2025-21926?

CVE-2025-21926 has a CVSS score of 5.5/10 (MEDIUM severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.19% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2025-21926?

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.