cbcvebase.
CVE-2025-21897
published 2025-04-01

CVE-2025-21897: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sched_ext: Fix pick_task_scx() picking non-queued tasks when it's called without balance()…

PriorityP420medium5.5CVSS 3.1
AVLACLPRLUINSUCNINAH
EPSS
0.14%
4.2th percentile
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sched_ext: Fix pick_task_scx() picking non-queued tasks when it's called without balance() a6250aa251ea ("sched_ext: Handle cases where pick_task_scx() is called without preceding balance_scx()") added a workaround to handle the cases where pick_task_scx() is called without prececing balance_scx() which is due to a fair class bug where pick_taks_fair() may return NULL after a true return from balance_fair(). The workaround detects when pick_task_scx() is called without preceding balance_scx() and emulates SCX_RQ_BAL_KEEP and triggers kicking to avoid stalling. Unfortunately, the workaround code was testing whether @prev was on SCX to decide whether to keep the task running. This is incorrect as the task may be on SCX but no longer runnable. This could lead to a non-runnable task to be returned from pick_task_scx() which cause interesting confusions and failures. e.g. A common failure mode is the task ending up with (!on_rq && on_cpu) state which can cause potential wakers to busy loop, which can easily lead to deadlocks. Fix it by testing whether @prev has SCX_TASK_QUEUED set. This makes @prev_on_scx only used in one place. Open code the usage and improve the comment while at it.

Affected

11 ranges
VendorProductVersion rangeFixed in
debianlinux< linux 6.12.19-1 (forky)linux 6.12.19-1 (forky)
linuxlinux
linuxlinux>= a6250aa251eacaf3ebfcfe152a96a727fd483ecd < 5324c459f90d16b0c43a78b494c598915d782b7a5324c459f90d16b0c43a78b494c598915d782b7a
linuxlinux>= a6250aa251eacaf3ebfcfe152a96a727fd483ecd < de60a31cb0bcacfaf9487546eac5e70e0a9c66d7de60a31cb0bcacfaf9487546eac5e70e0a9c66d7
linuxlinux>= a6250aa251eacaf3ebfcfe152a96a727fd483ecd < 8fef0a3b17bb258130a4fcbcb5addf94b25e9ec58fef0a3b17bb258130a4fcbcb5addf94b25e9ec5
linuxlinux_kernel
linuxlinux_kernel
linuxlinux_kernel>= 0 < 6.12.19-16.12.19-1
linuxlinux_kernel>= 0 < 6.12.19-16.12.19-1
linuxlinux_kernel>= 6.12.1 < 6.12.186.12.18
linuxlinux_kernel>= 6.13 < 6.13.66.13.6

CVSS provenance

nvdv3.15.5MEDIUMCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
osv5.5MEDIUM
vendor_debian5.5LOW
vendor_redhat5.5MEDIUM
Stop checking back — get the weekly exploitation signal.

Every Monday: what got weaponized or added to CISA KEV in the last seven days — each CVE cross-linked to its PoC, Nuclei template, and detection rule. Free, one email a week, unsubscribe in one click.