CVE-2025-37769 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 05/01/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
drm/amd/pm/smu11: Prevent division by zero
The user can set any speed value. If speed is greater than UINT_MAX/8, division by zero is possible.
Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with SVACE.
(cherry picked from commit da7dc714a8f8e1c9fc33c57cd63583779a3bef71)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2026
The vulnerability CVE-2025-37769 represents a critical division by zero flaw within the Linux kernel's AMD display driver subsystem, specifically affecting the power management unit component known as SMU11. This issue resides in the drm/amd/pm/smu11 driver module responsible for managing graphics processing unit power states and performance characteristics. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation when processing user-defined speed parameters, creating a scenario where malicious or malformed input can trigger system instability. The vulnerability was identified through systematic code analysis conducted by the Linux Verification Center, utilizing the SVACE verification tool suite that specializes in detecting runtime errors and undefined behavior in kernel space code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the driver processes user-provided speed values without proper bounds checking against the maximum unsigned integer value. When a speed parameter exceeds the threshold of UINT_MAX divided by eight, the mathematical operation that calculates power management states results in a division by zero condition. This mathematical error arises from the driver's internal calculation logic that attempts to normalize or scale the user input against predefined system parameters, where the denominator becomes zero when the input exceeds the critical threshold. The flaw manifests in kernel space execution context, where such arithmetic errors can lead to immediate system crashes, kernel panic conditions, or potentially exploitable states that could allow privilege escalation or denial of service attacks against the operating system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability, as it affects the reliability and security posture of Linux systems utilizing AMD graphics hardware. Systems running affected kernel versions may experience unexpected system crashes when graphics power management is actively engaged, particularly during dynamic performance scaling operations or when user applications attempt to configure graphics processing parameters. The vulnerability's exploitation potential increases when considering that it could be triggered through legitimate user-space applications that interface with graphics drivers, making it a significant concern for both desktop and server environments. This flaw directly impacts the kernel's ability to maintain stable power management operations, potentially causing cascading failures in graphics-intensive applications and system services that depend on consistent hardware behavior.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-37769 should prioritize immediate kernel updates that incorporate the fix from commit da7dc714a8f8e1c9fc33c57cd63583779a3bef71, which implements proper input validation and boundary checking for speed parameters. System administrators should deploy these patches across all affected systems, particularly those running graphics-intensive workloads or serving critical infrastructure roles. Additional protective measures include implementing runtime monitoring for unusual graphics driver behavior and establishing robust system logging to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-369, which describes division by zero conditions in software, and could potentially map to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for system denial of service operations. Organizations should also consider implementing kernel module access controls and privilege separation mechanisms to limit the potential impact of such flaws when patch deployment is delayed or incomplete.