CVE-2025-21853
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: avoid holding freeze_mutex during mmap operation We use map->freeze_mutex to prevent races between map_freeze() and memory mapping BPF map contents with writable permissions. The way we naively do this means we'll hold freeze_mutex for entire duration of all the mm and VMA manipulations, which is completely unnecessary. This can potentially also lead to deadlocks, as reported by syzbot in [0]. So, instead, hold freeze_mutex only during writeability checks, bump (proactively) "write active" count for the map, unlock the mutex and proceed with mmap logic. And only if something went wrong during mmap logic, then undo that "write active" counter increment. [0] https://lore.kernel.org/bpf/678dcbc9.050a0220.303755.0066.GAE@google.com/
Predictions
Heuristic predictions, AS-IS, for prioritization only.
Mitigations
No mitigations published for this CVE yet.
The vendor-content worker queues fetches as references arrive (check back in a few minutes). Or — if you've already worked around this in production — publish your fix to the community-verified tier.
✚ Propose a mitigation on Community → Mitigations published via the community go through AI scoring + 2 human reviewers + 7-day silent objection window before landing here withsource_tier=community-verified.
OS impact
SUSE Affected 1 release
| Version | Status | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| — | Affected | — |
AlmaLinux Fixed 1 release
| Version | Status | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Fixed | kernel-doc-5.14.0-611.5.1.el9_7.noarch.rpm |
Debian Fixed 5 releases
| Version | Status | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| trixie | Fixed | 6.12.17-1 |
| sid | Fixed | 6.12.17-1 |
| forky | Fixed | 6.12.17-1 |
| bullseye | Fixed | 5.10.237-1 |
| bookworm | Fixed | 6.1.135-1 |
Red Hat Fixed 1 release
| Version | Status | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Fixed | — |
Rocky Linux Fixed 1 release
| Version | Status | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Fixed | — |
References
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:20518
- https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-21853.html
- https://errata.rockylinux.org/RLSA-2025:20518
- https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2025-21853
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/2298169
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/2312077
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/2313092
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/2320172
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/2320259
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/2320455
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/2320616
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/2320722
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/2324549
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/2327203
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/2327374
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/2327887
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/2329918
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/2330341
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/2331326
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/2334357
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/2334396
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/2334415
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/2334439
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/2334537
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/2334547
Community-verified mitigations for this CVE will appear above when contributors publish them.
Verify integrity in audit chain (admin only). AS-IS.