CVE-2025-37790 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 05/01/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net: mctp: Set SOCK_RCU_FREE
Bind lookup runs under RCU, so ensure that a socket doesn't go away in the middle of a lookup.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-37790 resides within the Linux kernel's implementation of the Managed Controller and Management Protocol (MCTP) subsystem. This issue specifically affects the socket management mechanisms used by MCTP network drivers and applications that communicate using this protocol. MCTP is designed to provide a standardized communication framework for managing hardware components in data center environments, particularly for tasks involving firmware updates, device monitoring, and system management operations. The vulnerability manifests in how the kernel handles socket lifecycle management during concurrent access scenarios, creating potential race conditions that could lead to system instability or security implications.
The technical flaw stems from improper synchronization mechanisms within the MCTP socket implementation. When the kernel performs bind lookups for MCTP sockets, these operations execute under RCU (Read-Copy-Update) locking mechanisms to ensure efficient concurrent access. However, the socket structure itself lacks proper reference counting or lifecycle management that would prevent premature deallocation during active lookup operations. This creates a scenario where a socket object could be freed while another thread is performing a lookup operation, resulting in memory corruption, null pointer dereferences, or other undefined behavior patterns. The issue directly relates to CWE-362, which describes race conditions in concurrent programming where operations on shared resources can lead to inconsistent states or memory violations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across various Linux-based systems that utilize MCTP networking capabilities, particularly in data center environments, server management frameworks, and embedded systems where hardware component management is critical. Systems running kernel versions containing this flaw may experience unexpected crashes, memory corruption, or denial of service conditions when MCTP socket operations occur concurrently with socket deallocation. The vulnerability could be exploited by malicious actors to cause system instability or potentially escalate privileges if the memory corruption leads to code execution. Network administrators and system operators using MCTP-enabled applications should be particularly concerned about this issue as it affects fundamental socket management operations that are critical for maintaining network connectivity and system stability in enterprise environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-37790 involve applying the kernel patches that properly implement SOCK_RCU_FREE flag for MCTP sockets, ensuring that socket objects remain valid during active lookup operations. System administrators should prioritize updating their Linux kernel versions to include the fix, particularly in production environments where MCTP functionality is actively used. The implementation of proper RCU synchronization mechanisms ensures that socket deallocation occurs only after all active lookup operations have completed, preventing the race condition that leads to memory corruption. Organizations should also monitor their network infrastructure for any signs of instability or unexpected behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers the use of system services and network protocols to maintain persistence or execute malicious code, though the specific implementation here represents a defensive mechanism failure rather than an active exploitation vector.