CVE-2025-37874 net: ngbe: fix memory leak in ngbe_probe() error path
A memory leak in the ngbe network driver probe error path allows attackers to cause resource exhaustion and 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-2025-37874?
CVE-2025-37874 is a medium-severity denial of service vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 9 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:
net: ngbe: fix memory leak in ngbe_probe() error path
When ngbe_sw_init() is called, memory is allocated for wx->rss_key in wx_init_rss_key(). However, in ngbe_probe() function, the subsequent error paths after ngbe_sw_init() don't free the rss_key. Fix that by freeing it in error path along with wx->mac_table.
Also change the label to which execution jumps when ngbe_sw_init() fails, because otherwise, it could lead to a double free for rss_key, when the mac_table allocation fails in wx_sw_init().
Weakness: CWE-401
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-37874?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2025-37874?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade, then put limits on request size, rate and nesting depth so one client cannot exhaust the service. More about Denial of service.
Is CVE-2025-37874 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-37874 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2025-37874, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-37874, GHSA-hx96-c38q-f7wg, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2204-CVE-2025-37874, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2404-CVE-2025-37874, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-37874.