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Vulnerability DatabaseCVE-2025-37738

CVE-2025-37738: 
Linux Kernel vulnerability analysis and mitigation

Overview

A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ext4 filesystem handling was discovered and assigned CVE-2025-37738. The issue was identified in the ext4xattrinodedecref_all function where the system incorrectly processes xattr entries past the 'end' entry. This vulnerability was first reported on May 1, 2025, and affects Linux kernel versions up to 6.13.0-rc2+ (NVD, Wiz).

Technical details

The vulnerability manifests as a slab-use-after-free bug in the ext4xattrinodedecref_all function. When processing extended attributes (xattrs), the system fails to properly handle entries past the 'end' marker, leading to a read of size 4 at an invalid memory address. The issue was detected through KASAN (Kernel Address Sanitizer) reporting, which identified unauthorized memory access at address ffff888012c120c4 (NVD, Wiz).

Impact

The vulnerability could potentially lead to memory corruption in the Linux kernel when handling ext4 filesystem operations. This could result in system instability or potential privilege escalation, though the exact impact severity has not been fully assessed as the CVSS score is pending (Wiz).

Mitigation and workarounds

The issue has been resolved in newer kernel versions. Debian has implemented fixes in version 6.12.25-1 for the sid release and 6.1.135-1 for the bookworm release. Systems running affected versions should upgrade to these patched versions (Debian).

Additional resources

Source: This report was generated using AI

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