CVE-2025-37791 ethtool: cmis_cdb: use correct rpl size in ethtool_cmis_module_poll()
A stack corruption vulnerability in the Linux kernel ethtool CMIS module can cause a kernel panic, leading to denial of service.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2025-37791?
CVE-2025-37791 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 1 May 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ethtool: cmis_cdb: use correct rpl size in ethtool_cmis_module_poll()
rpl is passed as a pointer to ethtool_cmis_module_poll(), so the correct size of rpl is sizeof(*rpl) which should be just 1 byte. Using the pointer size instead can cause stack corruption:
Kernel panic - not syncing: stack-protector: Kernel stack is corrupted in: ethtool_cmis_wait_for_cond+0xf4/0x100 CPU: 72 UID: 0 PID: 4440 Comm: kworker/72:2 Kdump: loaded Tainted: G OE 6.11.0 #24 Tainted: [O]=OOT_MODULE, [E]=UNSIGNED_MODULE Hardware name: Dell Inc. PowerEdge R760/04GWWM, BIOS 1.6.6 09/20/2023 Workqueue: events module_flash_fw_work Call Trace: <TASK> panic+0x339/0x360 ? ethtool_cmis_wait_for_cond+0xf4/0x100 ? __pfx_status_success+0x10/0x10 ? __pfx_status_fail+0x10/0x10 __stack_chk_fail+0x10/0x10 ethtool_cmis_wait_for_cond+0xf4/0x100 ethtool_cmis_cdb_execute_cmd+0x1fc/0x330 ? __pfx_status_fail+0x10/0x10 cmis_cdb_module_features_get+0x6d/0xd0 ethtool_cmis_cdb_init+0x8a/0xd0 ethtool_cmis_fw_update+0x46/0x1d0 module_flash_fw_work+0x17/0xa0 process_one_work+0x179/0x390 worker_thread+0x239/0x340 ? __pfx_worker_thread+0x10/0x10 kthread+0xcc/0x100 ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 ret_from_fork+0x2d/0x50 ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 </TASK>
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-37791?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2025-37791?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.
Is CVE-2025-37791 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-37791 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2025-37791, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-37791, GHSA-4jf5-7pvp-xf23, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-37791.