CVE-2025-39786
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes an out-of-bounds memory access vulnerability in the Linux kernel's AD7173 ADC driver. An attacker could potentially read or write kernel memory beyond allocated bounds, leading to system crashes or privilege escalation. This affects Linux systems using the AD7173 analog-to-digital converter driver.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel with AD7173 ADC driver
📦 What is this software?
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
Kernel memory corruption leading to privilege escalation, system crash, or arbitrary code execution in kernel context.
Likely Case
System instability, kernel panic, or denial of service due to invalid memory access.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if driver is not loaded or device not present; potential system crash if exploited.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access, specific hardware, and knowledge of device configuration; no public exploits known.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Linux kernel with commits 0eb8d7b25397330beab8ee62c681975b79f37223 and 2def1a8691eb43654da0ae0d2fdb3722e20262a5
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0eb8d7b25397330beab8ee62c681975b79f37223
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to version containing fixes. 2. Reboot system. 3. Verify driver version matches patched kernel.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable AD7173 driver
linuxPrevent loading of vulnerable driver module
echo 'blacklist ad7173' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
rmmod ad7173
Remove hardware
allPhysically remove AD7173 ADC hardware if not required
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict physical access to systems with AD7173 hardware
- Monitor system logs for kernel panics or unusual driver behavior
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if AD7173 driver is loaded: lsmod | grep ad7173; check kernel version against patched versionsCheck Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes fix commits; test syscalib_mode attribute access📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages
- Out of bounds memory access errors in dmesg
- Driver initialization failures
Network Indicators:
- None - local hardware vulnerability
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("ad7173" OR "out of bounds" OR "kernel panic")