CVE-2025-37912 – A null pointer dereference vulnerability exists... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2025-37912?

CVE-2025-37912 has a CVSS score of 5.5 (MEDIUM). A null pointer dereference vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel's Intel Ethernet Connection (ice) driver. This allows a local attacker with VF (Virtual Function) access to cause a kernel panic or system crash by triggering the vulnerable code path. Systems using affected Intel Ethernet adapters with SR-IOV virtualization enabled are at risk.

📋 TL;DR

A null pointer dereference vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel's Intel Ethernet Connection (ice) driver. This allows a local attacker with VF (Virtual Function) access to cause a kernel panic or system crash by triggering the vulnerable code path. Systems using affected Intel Ethernet adapters with SR-IOV virtualization enabled are at risk.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Linux kernel with Intel Ethernet Connection (ice) driver

Versions: Kernel versions containing vulnerable ice driver code before the fix commits

Operating Systems: Linux distributions using affected kernel versions

Default Config Vulnerable: ✅ No

Notes: Requires SR-IOV virtualization enabled and VF access privileges. Not vulnerable in default configurations without virtualization features.

📦 What is this software?

Debian Linux by Debian

View all CVEs affecting Debian Linux →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Local denial of service causing kernel panic and system reboot, potentially leading to service disruption in virtualized environments.

🟠

Likely Case

System crash requiring manual reboot, causing temporary service interruption for VMs using affected network interfaces.

🟢

If Mitigated

No impact if proper access controls prevent unauthorized users from accessing VF interfaces.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW - Requires local access to the system with VF privileges.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Internal users or compromised containers/VMs with VF access could trigger the vulnerability.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

Requires local access and VF privileges. Exploitation involves triggering the specific code path in ice_vc_add_fdir_fltr() function.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Kernel versions containing commits: 0561f2e374c3, 073791e9cfe6, 425c5f266b2e, a32dcc3b8293, eae60cfe25d0

Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0561f2e374c3732b90e50f0a244791a4308ec67e

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Update Linux kernel to version containing the fix commits. 2. Reboot system to load new kernel. 3. Verify kernel version and driver functionality.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable SR-IOV virtualization

linux

Prevents VF access by disabling Single Root I/O Virtualization features

echo 0 > /sys/class/net/<interface>/device/sriov_numvfs

Restrict VF access

linux

Limit which users/processes can access Virtual Function interfaces

Use Linux capabilities and namespaces to restrict access to VF devices

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Implement strict access controls to prevent unauthorized users from accessing VF interfaces
Monitor system logs for kernel panic events and implement redundancy for critical services

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check kernel version and verify if ice driver is loaded: lsmod | grep ice && uname -r

Check Version:

uname -r

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify kernel version contains fix commits and test VF functionality remains operational

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Kernel panic messages
ice driver crash logs
System reboot events without clear cause

Network Indicators:

Sudden loss of network connectivity on VF interfaces
VM network disruption

SIEM Query:

source="kernel" AND ("panic" OR "Oops" OR "ice")

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2025-37912

CVSS v3 Score: 5.5 (MEDIUM)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CWE: CWE-476

EPSS Score: 0.03% exploit probability (9.3th percentile)

Published: May 20, 2025

Last Updated: November 17, 2025

🔗 References

📤 Share & Export

📄 Export Markdown 📋 Export JSON

🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

If you're affected by CVE-2025-37912, you might also want to check these: