Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A flaw in Linux’s NXP i.MX SPI driver can leave transfer function pointers unset after an error, causing the kernel to dereference a null address. A reachable failure could crash the affected system. The supplied CVSS score is 7.8, but exploitation requires local access.
Executive priority
Prioritize affected operational, embedded, and edge systems where a kernel crash could interrupt critical services. Treat internet-facing status alone as insufficient evidence of exposure because the vector is local. Patch through supported kernel channels after confirming spi-imx use and branch-specific applicability.
Technical view
The spi-imx driver failed to check the return value from spi_imx_setupxfer(). When setup fails, the rx and tx callbacks may remain NULL, and a subsequent PIO transfer can call a null pointer. The supplied trace confirms a kernel NULL-pointer dereference. Upstream stable-kernel commits add the missing error check.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Linux systems using the affected spi-imx driver and reaching its transfer-error path. The supplied CVSS vector indicates local, low-privilege access with no user interaction, not remote network access. Whether ordinary local users can reach the relevant SPI device is not established.
Exploitation context
The supplied record is not in CISA KEV, and no cited source reports active exploitation. Evidence demonstrates a kernel crash condition, but does not establish practical confidentiality or integrity compromise despite the CVSS vector rating all three impacts high.
Researcher notes
The CVE lists several stable-kernel fix commits. The provided affected-version representation contains duplicated commit entries and an ambiguous “0,” so exact branch boundaries require vendor or commit-ancestry validation. The trace supports NULL-call-target denial of service; the supplied evidence does not explain a path to confidentiality or integrity impact.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory Linux systems using the spi-imx driver, especially embedded and edge devices.
- Apply a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable upstream fix or backport.
- Check Linux distributor guidance for branch-specific fixed package versions.
- Until patched, restrict untrusted local access and access to exposed SPI device interfaces.
Validation and detection
- Record each system’s running kernel version, distribution package, and architecture.
- Confirm whether spi-imx is built, loaded, or actively serving SPI hardware.
- Verify the installed kernel includes the applicable fix commit or documented vendor backport.
- Review kernel logs for NULL dereferences involving spi_imx_pio_transfer or spi_imx_transfer_one.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CVE-2025-37801 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- 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
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.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9LinuxVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2fea0d6d7b5d27fbf55512d51851ba0a346ede52CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2b4479eb462ecb39001b38dfb331fc6028dedac8CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/185d376875ea6fb4256b9dc97ee0b4d2b0fdd399CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/055ef73bb1afc3f783a9a13b496770a781964a07CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/951a04ab3a2db4029debfa48d380ef834b93207eCVE reference, Linux
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/05/msg00045.htmlCVE reference, CVE
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.