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CVE-2025-37774: slab: ensure slab->obj_exts is clear in a newly allocated slab page

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: slab: ensure slab->obj_exts is clear in a newly allocated slab page ktest recently reported crashes while running several buffered io tests with __alloc_tagging_slab_alloc_hook() at the top of the crash call stack. The signature indicates an invalid address dereference with low bits of slab->obj_exts being set. The bits were outside of the range used by page_memcg_data_flags and objext_flags and hence were not masked out by slab_obj_exts() when obtaining the pointer stored in slab->obj_exts. The typical crash log looks like this: 00510 Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 0000000000000010 00510 Mem abort info: 00510 ESR = 0x0000000096000045 00510 EC = 0x25: DABT (current EL), IL = 32 bits 00510 SET = 0, FnV = 0 00510 EA = 0, S1PTW = 0 00510 FSC = 0x05: level 1 translation fault 00510 Data abort info: 00510 ISV = 0, ISS = 0x00000045, ISS2 = 0x00000000 00510 CM = 0, WnR = 1, TnD = 0, TagAccess = 0 00510 GCS = 0, Overlay = 0, DirtyBit = 0, Xs = 0 00510 user pgtable: 4k pages, 39-bit VAs, pgdp=0000000104175000 00510 [0000000000000010] pgd=0000000000000000, p4d=0000000000000000, pud=0000000000000000 00510 Internal error: Oops: 0000000096000045 [#1] SMP 00510 Modules linked in: 00510 CPU: 10 UID: 0 PID: 7692 Comm: cat Not tainted 6.15.0-rc1-ktest-g189e17946605 #19327 NONE 00510 Hardware name: linux,dummy-virt (DT) 00510 pstate: 20001005 (nzCv daif -PAN -UAO -TCO -DIT +SSBS BTYPE=--) 00510 pc : __alloc_tagging_slab_alloc_hook+0xe0/0x190 00510 lr : __kmalloc_noprof+0x150/0x310 00510 sp : ffffff80c87df6c0 00510 x29: ffffff80c87df6c0 x28: 000000000013d1ff x27: 000000000013d200 00510 x26: ffffff80c87df9e0 x25: 0000000000000000 x24: 0000000000000001 00510 x23: ffffffc08041953c x22: 000000000000004c x21: ffffff80c0002180 00510 x20: fffffffec3120840 x19: ffffff80c4821000 x18: 0000000000000000 00510 x17: fffffffec3d02f00 x16: fffffffec3d02e00 x15: fffffffec3d00700 00510 x14: fffffffec3d00600 x13: 0000000000000200 x12: 0000000000000006 00510 x11: ffffffc080bb86c0 x10: 0000000000000000 x9 : ffffffc080201e58 00510 x8 : ffffff80c4821060 x7 : 0000000000000000 x6 : 0000000055555556 00510 x5 : 0000000000000001 x4 : 0000000000000010 x3 : 0000000000000060 00510 x2 : 0000000000000000 x1 : ffffffc080f50cf8 x0 : ffffff80d801d000 00510 Call trace: 00510 __alloc_tagging_slab_alloc_hook+0xe0/0x190 (P) 00510 __kmalloc_noprof+0x150/0x310 00510 __bch2_folio_create+0x5c/0xf8 00510 bch2_folio_create+0x2c/0x40 00510 bch2_readahead+0xc0/0x460 00510 read_pages+0x7c/0x230 00510 page_cache_ra_order+0x244/0x3a8 00510 page_cache_async_ra+0x124/0x170 00510 filemap_readahead.isra.0+0x58/0xa0 00510 filemap_get_pages+0x454/0x7b0 00510 filemap_read+0xdc/0x418 00510 bch2_read_iter+0x100/0x1b0 00510 vfs_read+0x214/0x300 00510 ksys_read+0x6c/0x108 00510 __arm64_sys_read+0x20/0x30 00510 invoke_syscall.constprop.0+0x54/0xe8 00510 do_el0_svc+0x44/0xc8 00510 el0_svc+0x18/0x58 00510 el0t_64_sync_handler+0x104/0x130 00510 el0t_64_sync+0x154/0x158 00510 Code: d5384100 f9401c01 b9401aa3 b40002e1 (f8227881) 00510 ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- 00510 Kernel panic - not syncing: Oops: Fatal exception 00510 SMP: stopping secondary CPUs 00510 Kernel Offset: disabled 00510 CPU features: 0x0000,000000e0,00000410,8240500b 00510 Memory Limit: none Investigation indicates that these bits are already set when we allocate slab page and are not zeroed out after allocation. We are not yet sure why these crashes start happening only recently but regardless of the reason, not initializing a field that gets used later is wrong. Fix it by initializing slab->obj_exts during slab page allocation.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux kernel slab-allocation bug can leave an internal pointer field uninitialized. Under observed buffered I/O workloads, the kernel may dereference an invalid address, crash, and panic, disrupting the host and its workloads. The supplied CVSS score is 7.8, requiring local, low-privileged access.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority kernel maintenance issue for multi-user, shared-compute, and availability-sensitive systems. Schedule prompt patching through supported distribution channels. Immediate emergency action is less clearly justified because the supplied evidence shows local prerequisites and no confirmed active exploitation.

Technical view

Newly allocated slab pages may retain unexpected bits in slab->obj_exts. Later, slab_obj_exts() may treat the unmasked value as a pointer, causing an invalid address dereference in __alloc_tagging_slab_alloc_hook(). The published fix initializes slab->obj_exts during slab-page allocation.

Likely exposure

Prioritize Linux systems running versions identified as affected in the supplied record: 6.10, 6.12.25, 6.14.4, and 6.15. The version data also contains an ambiguous “0” entry and repeated commit identifiers marked unaffected, so confirm exposure against kernel or distribution vendor guidance.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector describes local attack access, low privileges, low complexity, and no user interaction. The bundle does not identify active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV. Evidence provided demonstrates crashes during buffered I/O testing, not a proven malicious exploitation path.

Researcher notes

The root cause is failure to clear slab->obj_exts when allocating a slab page. Unexpected low bits survive masking and produce an invalid pointer. The supplied trace shows an ARM64 kernel panic during bcachefs readahead. Although CVSS assigns high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, the bundle directly demonstrates only crash and denial-of-service behavior.

Mitigation direction

  • Install a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable upstream stable fix.
  • Confirm the corrected kernel is selected and active after maintenance.
  • Consult the Linux distribution vendor for exact fixed package versions.
  • Restrict unnecessary local account and workload access until remediation is complete.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions across hosts and compare them with vendor advisories.
  • Verify the installed kernel incorporates the relevant stable fix commit.
  • Review kernel logs for slab allocation faults, Oops events, or panics.
  • Test representative buffered I/O workloads after updating in a controlled environment.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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CVE-2025-37774 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
0ADP providers
4Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-37774Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux21c690a349baab895dc68ab70d291e1598d7109d, 21c690a349baab895dc68ab70d291e1598d7109d, 21c690a349baab895dc68ab70d291e1598d7109dunaffected
LinuxLinux6.10, 0, 6.12.25, 6.14.4, 6.15affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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