Vulnerability · CVE-2025-21971
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net_sched: Prevent creation of classes with TC_H_ROOT The function qdisc_tree_reduce_backlog() uses…
Published Apr 1, 2025 · catalog updated Oct 15, 2026 · linux kernel
Check if you run it
No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2025-21971. EPSS is 0.22%. Act only if a listed version of linux kernel is installed.
Gaps on this record
- No vendor fix or required action is stored. Compare the linked advisory before you change production.
- Severity
- Medium5.5
- Known exploitation
- Not in CISA/VulnCheck KEV
- EPSS
- 0.22%
- Remediation
- Advisory link
- Affected products
- cpe linux/linux kernel
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net_sched: Prevent creation of classes with TC_H_ROOT The function qdisc_tree_reduce_backlog() uses TC_H_ROOT as a termination condition when traversing up the qdisc tree to update parent backlog counters. However, if a class is created with classid TC_H_ROOT, the traversal terminates prematurely at this class instead of reaching the actual root qdisc, causing parent statistics to be incorrectly maintained. In case of DRR, this could lead to a crash as reported by Mingi Cho. Prevent the creation of any Qdisc class with classid TC_H_ROOT (0xFFFFFFFF) across all qdisc types, as suggested by Jamal.
Are you affected?
Enter the version you run. The result uses only the ranges stored on this record.
The check returns affected, not affected, or incomplete. It does not guess a version that is missing from the record.
- cpe linux/linux kernel2.6.25
How to fix CVE-2025-21971
Recommended remediation
A patch or advisory reference is linked. Open the original publisher for availability by product version.
Official advisories
What to do
Three questions, each answered from this record only. Confirm the vendor advisory before you patch.
Should you patch?
No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2025-21971. EPSS is 0.22%. Act only if a listed version of linux kernel is installed.
Which versions are affected?
Compare what you have installed with linux/linux kernel 2.6.25. Compare the installed version with the linked vendor advisory before you change production.
What should an analyst verify?
CWE-835: Infinite Loop. EPSS 0.22%. There is no CISA KEV listing. No Exploit-DB or Metasploit reference is linked. Use the source links for the original advisory.
Code
The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.
Timeline
Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.
Apr 1, 2025 · NIST NVD
Detected
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net_sched: Prevent creation of classes with TC_H_ROOT The function qdisc_tree_reduce_backlog() uses TC_H_ROOT as a termination condition when traversing up the qdisc tree to update parent backlog counters. However, if a class is created with classid TC_H_ROOT, the traversal terminates prematurely at this class instead of reaching
Oct 15, 2026 · NIST NVD
Updated
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net_sched: Prevent creation of classes with TC_H_ROOT The function qdisc_tree_reduce_backlog() uses TC_H_ROOT as a termination condition when traversing up the qdisc tree to update parent backlog counters. However, if a class is created with classid TC_H_ROOT, the traversal terminates prematurely at this class instead of reaching
Sources
- CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2025-21971
Official CVE identifier
cve.org - FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2025-21971
30-day exploitation probability 0.22%
first.org - NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2025-21971
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net_sched: Prevent creation of classes with TC_H_ROOT The function qdisc_tree_reduce_backlog() uses TC_H_ROOT as a termination condition when traversing up the qdisc tree to update parent backlog counters. Howe
nvd.nist.gov
References
Freshness
Last verified in this catalog Oct 21, 2026. Significant claims (KEV, EPSS, CVSS, affected ranges) come from the source rows above — open the original publisher for the authoritative advisory.