Linux Kernel up to 6.1.135/6.6.88/6.12.25/6.14.4 bpf _free_event deadlock

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.135/6.6.88/6.12.25/6.14.4. Affected is the function _free_event of the component bpf. Executing a manipulation can lead to deadlock. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-37884. There is no exploit available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.135/6.6.88/6.12.25/6.14.4 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects the function _free_event of the component bpf. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a deadlock vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-833. The product contains multiple threads or executable segments that are waiting for each other to release a necessary lock, resulting in deadlock. As an impact it is known to affect availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Fix deadlock between rcu_tasks_trace and event_mutex. Fix the following deadlock: CPU A _free_event() perf_kprobe_destroy() mutex_lock(&event_mutex) perf_trace_event_unreg() synchronize_rcu_tasks_trace() There are several paths where _free_event() grabs event_mutex and calls sync_rcu_tasks_trace. Above is one such case. CPU B bpf_prog_test_run_syscall() rcu_read_lock_trace() bpf_prog_run_pin_on_cpu() bpf_prog_load() bpf_tracing_func_proto() trace_set_clr_event() mutex_lock(&event_mutex) Delegate trace_set_clr_event() to workqueue to avoid such lock dependency.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-37884 since 04/16/2025. The exploitation appears to be difficult. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 237504 (Debian dla-4193 : linux-config-6.1 - security update), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.136, 6.6.89, 6.12.26, 6.14.5 or 6.15-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 255cbc9db7067a83713fd2f4b31034ddd266549a/b5a528a34e1f613565115a7a6016862ccbfcb9ac/c5c833f6375f8ecf9254dd27946c927c7d645421/45286680b385f2592db3003554872388dee66d68/4580f4e0ebdf8dc8d506ae926b88510395a0c1d1 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 (237504) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-0991). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Affected

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

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.1.135
• 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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Exploitinginfo

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Entryinfo

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