Linux Kernel up to 6.6.88/6.12.25/6.14.4 io_uring reference count

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.88/6.12.25/6.14.4. The affected element is an unknown function of the component io_uring. Executing a manipulation can lead to reference count. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-37804. There is no exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.88/6.12.25/6.14.4 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects an unknown code block of the component io_uring. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a reference count vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-911. The product uses a reference count to manage a resource, but it does not update or incorrectly updates the reference count. As an impact it is known to affect availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: io_uring: always do atomic put from iowq io_uring always switches requests to atomic refcounting for iowq execution before there is any parallilism by setting REQ_F_REFCOUNT, and the flag is not cleared until the request completes. That should be fine as long as the compiler doesn't make up a non existing value for the flags, however KCSAN still complains when the request owner changes oter flag bits: BUG: KCSAN: data-race in io_req_task_cancel / io_wq_free_work ... read to 0xffff888117207448 of 8 bytes by task 3871 on cpu 0: req_ref_put_and_test io_uring/refs.h:22 [inline] Skip REQ_F_REFCOUNT checks for iowq, we know it's set.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-37804 since 04/16/2025. The exploitation appears to be difficult. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 240824 (SUSE SLES15 / openSUSE 15 Security Update : kernel (SUSE-SU-2025:01965-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.6.89, 6.12.26, 6.14.5 or 6.15-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch c5d4d103005d8926cdad344f9fc947e651c9f2f7/3568fd9e440ea393c7d8bee253419ea11fd8e9d9/6d2753b46452a557a12f7ef1ef4ee6641b4e89d8/390513642ee6763c7ada07f0a1470474986e6c1c is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (240824) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-0975). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• SUSE openSUSE
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Dell Avamar
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• Dell NetWorker
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.6.0
• 6.6.1
• 6.6.2
• 6.6.3
• 6.6.4
• 6.6.5
• 6.6.6
• 6.6.7
• 6.6.8
• 6.6.9
• 6.6.10
• 6.6.11
• 6.6.12
• 6.6.13
• 6.6.14
• 6.6.15
• 6.6.16
• 6.6.17
• 6.6.18
• 6.6.19
• 6.6.20
• 6.6.21
• 6.6.22
• 6.6.23
• 6.6.24
• 6.6.25
• 6.6.26
• 6.6.27
• 6.6.28
• 6.6.29
• 6.6.30
• 6.6.31
• 6.6.32
• 6.6.33
• 6.6.34
• 6.6.35
• 6.6.36
• 6.6.37
• 6.6.38
• 6.6.39
• 6.6.40
• 6.6.41
• 6.6.42
• 6.6.43
• 6.6.44
• 6.6.45
• 6.6.46
• 6.6.47
• 6.6.48
• 6.6.49
• 6.6.50
• 6.6.51
• 6.6.52
• 6.6.53
• 6.6.54
• 6.6.55
• 6.6.56
• 6.6.57
• 6.6.58
• 6.6.59
• 6.6.60
• 6.6.61
• 6.6.62
• 6.6.63
• 6.6.64
• 6.6.65
• 6.6.66
• 6.6.67
• 6.6.68
• 6.6.69
• 6.6.70
• 6.6.71
• 6.6.72
• 6.6.73
• 6.6.74
• 6.6.75
• 6.6.76
• 6.6.77
• 6.6.78
• 6.6.79
• 6.6.80
• 6.6.81
• 6.6.82
• 6.6.83
• 6.6.84
• 6.6.85
• 6.6.86
• 6.6.87
• 6.6.88
• 6.12.0
• 6.12.1
• 6.12.2
• 6.12.3
• 6.12.4
• 6.12.5
• 6.12.6
• 6.12.7
• 6.12.8
• 6.12.9
• 6.12.10
• 6.12.11
• 6.12.12
• 6.12.13
• 6.12.14
• 6.12.15
• 6.12.16
• 6.12.17
• 6.12.18
• 6.12.19
• 6.12.20
• 6.12.21
• 6.12.22
• 6.12.23
• 6.12.24
• 6.12.25
• 6.14.0
• 6.14.1
• 6.14.2
• 6.14.3
• 6.14.4

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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