CVE-2025-22104 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 04/16/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ibmvnic: Use kernel helpers for hex dumps
Previously, when the driver was printing hex dumps, the buffer was cast to an 8 byte long and printed using string formatters. If the buffer size was not a multiple of 8 then a read buffer overflow was possible.
Therefore, create a new ibmvnic function that loops over a buffer and calls hex_dump_to_buffer instead.
This patch address KASAN reports like the one below: ibmvnic 30000003 env3: Login Buffer: ibmvnic 30000003 env3: 01000000af000000 ibmvnic 30000003 env3: 2e6d62692e736261 ibmvnic 30000003 env3: 65050003006d6f63 ================================================================== BUG: KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds in ibmvnic_login+0xacc/0xffc [ibmvnic]
Read of size 8 at addr c0000001331a9aa8 by task ip/17681 Allocated by task 17681: ibmvnic_login+0x2f0/0xffc [ibmvnic]
ibmvnic_open+0x148/0x308 [ibmvnic]
__dev_open+0x1ac/0x304 The buggy address is located 168 bytes inside of allocated 175-byte region [c0000001331a9a00, c0000001331a9aaf)
================================================================= ibmvnic 30000003 env3: 000000000033766e
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-22104 affects the ibmvnic driver within the Linux kernel, specifically addressing a buffer overflow condition that occurred during hex dump operations. This flaw resides in the driver's handling of data buffer processing, where improper casting and formatting techniques created opportunities for memory access violations. The issue manifests when the driver attempts to print hexadecimal representations of buffer contents, particularly during login operations where network communication data is logged for diagnostic purposes.
The technical root cause stems from the driver's use of incorrect buffer casting operations that treated arbitrary buffer sizes as fixed 8-byte segments. When buffer dimensions did not align with these fixed segments, the kernel's string formatting mechanisms would attempt to read beyond the allocated memory boundaries, triggering a kernel address sanitizer (KASAN) violation. This particular implementation flaw falls under the category of buffer overflow conditions that are commonly classified as CWE-121, which represents stack-based buffer overflow vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of improper memory access where the code assumes buffer alignment that may not exist in practice.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple diagnostic logging, as it represents a potential attack surface that could be exploited to cause system instability or potentially enable privilege escalation. The KASAN report indicates that the vulnerability occurs during the ibmvnic_login function execution, which suggests that malicious actors could potentially trigger this condition through crafted network communications or by manipulating driver parameters. The memory access violation occurs at a specific offset within an allocated 175-byte region, indicating that the overflow affects memory that was not properly allocated for the operation, creating a clear path for memory corruption that could be leveraged in more sophisticated attacks.
The resolution implemented addresses this issue by replacing the problematic hex dump implementation with the standard kernel helper function hex_dump_to_buffer, which properly handles arbitrary buffer sizes and ensures correct memory boundaries are respected. This approach aligns with established kernel security practices and eliminates the potential for buffer overflows by utilizing well-tested kernel infrastructure. The fix represents a defensive programming approach that reduces the attack surface and prevents the type of memory corruption that could be exploited by adversaries. The mitigation strategy follows the principle of least privilege and secure coding practices that are fundamental to the ATT&CK framework's defensive measures, specifically targeting the privilege escalation and execution phases of potential attack vectors.
The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in kernel space drivers where the consequences of buffer overflows can extend far beyond simple application crashes. The ibmvnic driver's implementation required a fundamental change in how hex dumps are processed, moving away from potentially unsafe casting operations to standardized kernel functions that properly validate memory boundaries. This change not only resolves the immediate vulnerability but also establishes a more secure pattern for similar operations throughout the kernel codebase, reducing the likelihood of similar issues in other drivers or kernel subsystems that might implement similar hex dump functionality. The patch implementation reflects the kernel community's approach to addressing memory safety issues through the use of established kernel infrastructure rather than attempting to create custom solutions that may introduce additional security risks.