CVE-2025-37916 pds_core: remove write-after-free of client_id
A use-after-free vulnerability in the pds_core driver allows attackers to cause a system crash or potentially execute code during device removal.
- 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-2025-37916?
CVE-2025-37916 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 20 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:
pds_core: remove write-after-free of client_id
A use-after-free error popped up in stress testing:
[Mon Apr 21 21:21:33 2025] BUG: KFENCE: use-after-free write in pdsc_auxbus_dev_del+0xef/0x160 [pds_core] [Mon Apr 21 21:21:33 2025] Use-after-free write at 0x000000007013ecd1 (in kfence-#47): [Mon Apr 21 21:21:33 2025] pdsc_auxbus_dev_del+0xef/0x160 [pds_core] [Mon Apr 21 21:21:33 2025] pdsc_remove+0xc0/0x1b0 [pds_core] [Mon Apr 21 21:21:33 2025] pci_device_remove+0x24/0x70 [Mon Apr 21 21:21:33 2025] device_release_driver_internal+0x11f/0x180 [Mon Apr 21 21:21:33 2025] driver_detach+0x45/0x80 [Mon Apr 21 21:21:33 2025] bus_remove_driver+0x83/0xe0 [Mon Apr 21 21:21:33 2025] pci_unregister_driver+0x1a/0x80
The actual device uninit usually happens on a separate thread scheduled after this code runs, but there is no guarantee of order of thread execution, so this could be a problem. There's no actual need to clear the client_id at this point, so simply remove the offending code.
Weakness: CWE-416
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-37916?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2025-37916?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2025-37916 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-37916 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2025-37916, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-37916, GHSA-wj4h-929j-75c8, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2404-CVE-2025-37916, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-37916.