Use-After-Free in Linux kernel (CVE-2025-37738)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2025-37738). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ext4: ignore xattrs past end
Once inside 'ext4_xattr_inode_dec_ref_all' we should
ignore xattrs entries past the 'end' entry.
This fixes the following KASAN reported issue:
==================================================================
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in ext4_xattr_inode_dec_ref_all+0xb8c/0xe90
Read of size 4 at addr ffff888012c120c4 by task repro/2065
CPU: 1 UID: 0 PID: 2065 Comm: repro Not tainted 6.13.0-rc2+ #11
Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS rel-1.16.3-0-ga6ed6b701f0a-prebuilt.qemu.org 04/01/2014
Call Trace:
dump_stack_lvl+0x1fd/0x300
? tcp_gro_dev_warn+0x260/0x260
? _printk+0xc0/0x100
? read_lock_is_recursive+0x10/0x10
? irq_work_queue+0x72/0xf0
? __virt_addr_valid+0x17b/0x4b0
print_address_description+0x78/0x390
print_report+0x107/0x1f0
? __virt_addr_valid+0x17b/0x4b0
? __virt_addr_valid+0x3ff/0x4b0
? __phys_addr+0xb5/0x160
? ext4_xattr_inode_dec_ref_all+0xb8c/0xe90
kasan_report+0xcc/0x100
? ext4_xattr_inode_dec_ref_all+0xb8c/0xe90
ext4_xattr_inode_dec_ref_all+0xb8c/0xe90
? ext4_xattr_delete_inode+0xd30/0xd30
? __ext4_journal_ensure_credits+0x5f0/0x5f0
? __ext4_journal_ensure_credits+0x2b/0x5f0
? inode_update_timestamps+0x410/0x410
ext4_xattr_delete_inode+0xb64/0xd30
? ext4_truncate+0xb70/0xdc0
? ext4_expand_extra_isize_ea+0x1d20/0x1d20
? __ext4_mark_inode_dirty+0x670/0x670
? ext4_journal_check_start+0x16f/0x240
? ext4_inode_i…
Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database NVD
Auto-generated summary
Assembled by SecPulse from the source data (CVSS, CWE, affected versions) using templates — no AI involved. Check the original description and references below for exact details.
A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2025-37738 has been found in Linux kernel.
Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. CVSS score: 7.8/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "Linux kernel CVE-2025-37738" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2025-37738 (Linux kernel) — CWE-416 / CVSS v3 7.8
Attack vector: local / no user interaction
Plan: 1) Audit SBOM/dependencies, 2) Stage→prod upgrade, 3) Add WAF/proxy monitoring on affected endpoints, 4) Hunt IOCs in logs.
Refs: see the GHSA / vendor advisory / patched release linked on this page.
Use-after-free (CWE-416) exists in Linux kernel.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of Linux kernel.
Severity: High (CVSS 7.8/10). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Update to the patched release per vendor advisory.
Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.
Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Audit SBOM/dependencies to find affected services.
Response actions
Concrete steps and command examples for SOC/SRE teams to execute in order
-
1Identify exposure identify
Audit SBOM/dependencies for affected components.資産台帳・SBOM・依存マニフェストで Linux kernel を使っているサービスとバージョンを洗い出す。
-
2Post-deployment verification verify
Confirm patched version is live in productionパッチ適用後、ステージングで PoC または同等の悪用パターンを再現して脆弱性が閉じたことを確認。本番ではアクセスログ・WAF でアラート再発が無いか継続監視。
Affected packages
Fix status by distribution
Fixed packages published by each distribution for this CVE
- BellSoft Alpaquita BELL-CVE-2025-37738 linux-lts Fixed in: 6.1.140-r0
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2025-37738 linux Fixed in: 5.10.237-1
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2025-37738 linux
References
- advisory github.com
- advisory nvd.nist.gov
- package git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web lists.debian.org
- web lists.debian.org