Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: eth: bnxt: fix kernel panic...
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
eth: bnxt: fix kernel panic in the bnxt_get_queue_stats{rx | tx}
When qstats-get operation is executed, callbacks of netdev_stats_ops
are called. The bnxt_get_queue_stats{rx | tx} collect per-queue stats
from sw_stats in the rings.
But {rx | tx | cp}_ring are allocated when the interface is up.
So, these rings are not allocated when the interface is down.
The qstats-get is allowed even if the interface is down. However,
the bnxt_get_queue_stats{rx | tx}() accesses cp_ring and tx_ring
without null check.
So, it needs to avoid accessing rings if the interface is down.
Reproducer:
ip link set $interface down
./cli.py --spec netdev.yaml --dump qstats-get
OR
ip link set $interface down
python ./stats.py
Splat looks like:
BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000
#PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode
#PF: error_code(0x0000) - not-present page
PGD 1680fa067 P4D 1680fa067 PUD 16be3b067 PMD 0
Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP NOPTI
CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 1495 Comm: python3 Not tainted 6.14.0-rc4+ #32 5cd0f999d5a15c574ac72b3e4b907341
Hardware name: ASUS System Product Name/PRIME Z690-P D4, BIOS 0603 11/01/2021
RIP: 0010:bnxt_get_queue_stats_rx+0xf/0x70 [bnxt_en]
Code: c6 87 b5 18 00 00 02 eb a2 66 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 0f 1f 44 01
RSP: 0018:ffffabef43cdb7e0 EFLAGS: 00010282
RAX: 0000000000000000 RBX: ffffffffc04c8710 RCX: 0000000000000000
RDX: ffffabef43cdb858 RSI: 0000000000000000 RDI: ffff8d504e850000
RBP: ffff8d506c9f9c00 R08: 0000000000000004 R09: ffff8d506bcd901c
R10: 0000000000000015 R11: ffff8d506bcd9000 R12: 0000000000000000
R13: ffffabef43cdb8c0 R14: ffff8d504e850000 R15: 0000000000000000
FS: 00007f2c5462b080(0000) GS:ffff8d575f600000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000
CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033
CR2: 0000000000000000 CR3: 0000000167fd0000 CR4: 00000000007506f0
PKRU: 55555554
Call Trace:
? __die+0x20/0x70
? page_fault_oops+0x15a/0x460
? sched_balance_find_src_group+0x58d/0xd10
? exc_page_fault+0x6e/0x180
? asm_exc_page_fault+0x22/0x30
? bnxt_get_queue_stats_rx+0xf/0x70 [bnxt_en cdd546fd48563c280cfd30e9647efa420db07bf1]
netdev_nl_stats_by_netdev+0x2b1/0x4e0
? xas_load+0x9/0xb0
? xas_find+0x183/0x1d0
? xa_find+0x8b/0xe0
netdev_nl_qstats_get_dumpit+0xbf/0x1e0
genl_dumpit+0x31/0x90
netlink_dump+0x1a8/0x360
Impact
CVE-2025-21973 has a CVSS score of 7.1 (High). The vector is requires local access, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. No fixed version is listed yet, so configuration controls and monitoring matter more in the interim.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2025-21973? CVE-2025-21973 is a high-severity security vulnerability. No fixed version is listed yet.
- How severe is CVE-2025-21973? CVE-2025-21973 has a CVSS score of 7.1 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2025-21973? No fixed version is listed for CVE-2025-21973 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
- Is CVE-2025-21973 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2025-21973 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2025-21973 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.