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CVE-2025-21692 is an out-of-bounds array-index vulnerability in the Linux kernel Ethernet Traffic Scheduler (ETS) queuing discipline. The ETS class lookup logic can process a class identifier of zero such that it indexes before the valid ETS class array range. UBSAN reports an effective index of -1 against an array containing 16 ETS class entries. A local attacker able to issue the relevant traffic-control netlink request can trigger invalid kernel memory access.
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1 valid exploit after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos.
This repository provides a working exploit for CVE-2025-21692, a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ETS (Enhanced Transmission Selection) qdisc subsystem. The main exploit code is in 'exp_2.c', which leverages the vulnerability to achieve local privilege escalation. The exploit sets up user, mount, and network namespaces, manipulates kernel memory via qdisc operations, and ultimately executes a payload that removes the root password from /etc/passwd and creates a setuid root shell at /backdoor.sh. The repository includes scripts for compiling and packaging the exploit into an initramfs (compress.sh), as well as scripts for running a QEMU virtual machine with the appropriate kernel and initramfs (run_qemu.sh, run_qemu_like_dbg.sh). The writeup.md provides a detailed technical explanation of the vulnerability, exploitation process, and kernel internals. The exploit is operational and demonstrates a full local privilege escalation chain on vulnerable kernels, but requires a specific test environment as described in the documentation.
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8 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.
Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.
Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.
Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.
YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.
Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.
Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.