Linux Kernel up to 6.16.5/6.17-rc4 asus_wmi_register_driver race condition

| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 6.1 | $0-$5k | 0.00 |
Summary
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.16.5/6.17-rc4. This affects the function asus_wmi_register_driver. The manipulation leads to race condition.
This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2025-39837. No exploit is available.
It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.
Details
A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.16.5/6.17-rc4. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function asus_wmi_register_driver. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a race condition vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-362. The product contains a code sequence that can run concurrently with other code, and the code sequence requires temporary, exclusive access to a shared resource, but a timing window exists in which the shared resource can be modified by another code sequence that is operating concurrently. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: platform/x86: asus-wmi: Fix racy registrations asus_wmi_register_driver() may be called from multiple drivers concurrently, which can lead to the racy list operations, eventually corrupting the memory and hitting Oops on some ASUS machines. Also, the error handling is missing, and it forgot to unregister ACPI lps0 dev ops in the error case. This patch covers those issues by introducing a simple mutex at acpi_wmi_register_driver() & *_unregister_driver, and adding the proper call of asus_s2idle_check_unregister() in the error path.
The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-39837 since 04/16/2025. The exploitation is known to be difficult. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.
The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 265885 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-39837), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.
Upgrading to version 6.16.6 or 6.17-rc5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch e7a70326fb26b905cfc8fe2366113aa4394733ef/5549202b9c02c2ecbc8634768a3da8d9e82d548d 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 (265885) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2099). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Affected
- Debian Linux
- Amazon Linux 2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- Ubuntu Linux
- SUSE Linux
- Oracle Linux
- IBM QRadar SIEM
- SUSE openSUSE
- RESF Rocky Linux
- Open Source Linux Kernel
- Dell Secure Connect Gateway
- Dell NetWorker
- Dell ECS
Product
Type
Vendor
Name
Version
License
Website
- Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔒VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.2VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.1
VulDB Base Score: 4.6
VulDB Temp Score: 4.4
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔒
CVSSv2
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| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Race conditionCWE: CWE-362
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒
Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially
Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒
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Nessus ID: 265885
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-39837
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: UpgradeStatus: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔒
Upgrade: Kernel 6.16.6/6.17-rc5
Patch: e7a70326fb26b905cfc8fe2366113aa4394733ef/5549202b9c02c2ecbc8634768a3da8d9e82d548d
Timeline
04/16/2025 CVE reserved09/19/2025 Advisory disclosed
09/19/2025 VulDB entry created
06/24/2026 VulDB entry last update
Sources
Vendor: kernel.orgAdvisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed
CVE: CVE-2025-39837 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-39837
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-325025
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2099 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen
Entry
Created: 09/19/2025 18:09Updated: 06/24/2026 09:39
Changes: 09/19/2025 18:09 (58), 09/28/2025 17:19 (2), 10/20/2025 19:02 (7), 11/03/2025 12:16 (1), 11/11/2025 22:32 (1), 11/29/2025 06:03 (1), 12/13/2025 04:25 (11), 12/22/2025 10:25 (1), 06/24/2026 09:39 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
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