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CVE Record

CVE-2025-37871: nfsd: decrease sc_count directly if fail to queue dl_recall

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nfsd: decrease sc_count directly if fail to queue dl_recall A deadlock warning occurred when invoking nfs4_put_stid following a failed dl_recall queue operation: T1 T2 nfs4_laundromat nfs4_get_client_reaplist nfs4_anylock_blockers __break_lease spin_lock // ctx->flc_lock spin_lock // clp->cl_lock nfs4_lockowner_has_blockers locks_owner_has_blockers spin_lock // flctx->flc_lock nfsd_break_deleg_cb nfsd_break_one_deleg nfs4_put_stid refcount_dec_and_lock spin_lock // clp->cl_lock When a file is opened, an nfs4_delegation is allocated with sc_count initialized to 1, and the file_lease holds a reference to the delegation. The file_lease is then associated with the file through kernel_setlease. The disassociation is performed in nfsd4_delegreturn via the following call chain: nfsd4_delegreturn --> destroy_delegation --> destroy_unhashed_deleg --> nfs4_unlock_deleg_lease --> kernel_setlease --> generic_delete_lease The corresponding sc_count reference will be released after this disassociation. Since nfsd_break_one_deleg executes while holding the flc_lock, the disassociation process becomes blocked when attempting to acquire flc_lock in generic_delete_lease. This means: 1) sc_count in nfsd_break_one_deleg will not be decremented to 0; 2) The nfs4_put_stid called by nfsd_break_one_deleg will not attempt to acquire cl_lock; 3) Consequently, no deadlock condition is created. Given that sc_count in nfsd_break_one_deleg remains non-zero, we can safely perform refcount_dec on sc_count directly. This approach effectively avoids triggering deadlock warnings.

HighCVSS 7.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux NFS server flaw can cause a lock-handling failure when the kernel cannot queue a delegation recall. The documented impact is loss of availability rather than data theft or modification. Network reachability, low attack complexity, and no required privileges produce a CVSS 7.5 rating, but the supplied evidence does not demonstrate active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority availability issue for exposed or operationally critical NFS servers. Patch through supported distribution channels after focused testing. Lower priority for systems without NFS server functionality. Escalate immediately if kernel lock warnings, NFS stalls, or unexplained service disruption are observed.

Technical view

The flaw affects Linux nfsd delegation handling after a dl_recall queue failure. Calling nfs4_put_stid while holding flc_lock can create problematic lock ordering involving cl_lock and trigger deadlock warnings. The stable fix directly decrements the delegation sc_count reference, avoiding the lock-taking path while the count remains nonzero.

Likely exposure

Systems operating Linux as an NFS server are the relevant population, particularly where NFS is reachable from untrusted or broadly accessible networks. Hosts that do not provide NFS service are unlikely to expose this path. The bundle does not provide a reliable complete vulnerable-version range, so distribution-specific status must be confirmed.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector describes network access, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, and availability impact. However, KEV is false, and the supplied sources contain no evidence of exploitation in the wild or a public weaponized exploit. Practical reproducibility and attacker control over the queue-failure condition remain unconfirmed.

Researcher notes

The correction relies on the delegation reference count remaining nonzero while lease disassociation is blocked on flc_lock. Direct refcount_dec avoids the refcount_dec_and_lock path and therefore avoids acquiring cl_lock. The source describes a narrow concurrency and reference-management correction; it does not document confidentiality, integrity, code-execution, or privilege-escalation impact.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply a vendor-supported kernel update containing the referenced stable fix.
  • Check Linux distribution advisories for affected and corrected package versions.
  • Restrict NFS exposure to required clients and trusted network segments.
  • Prioritize internet-accessible or business-critical NFS servers.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux hosts providing NFS server services and record their kernel packages.
  • Map installed kernels against distribution advisories and referenced stable commits.
  • Review kernel logs for nfsd deadlock, lockdep, delegation, or recall warnings.
  • After updating, regression-test NFS delegation, recall, and file-access workloads.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

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-2025-37871 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.5 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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
1ADP providers
10Source 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
7.5CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H3.93.6Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.5High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-37871Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

ADP provider summaries

CVECVE Program Container
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxb874cdef4e67e5150e07eff0eae1cbb21fb92da1, cdb796137c57e68ca34518d53be53b679351eb86, d96587cc93ec369031bcd7658c6adc719873c9fd, 9a81cde8c7ce65dd90fb47ceea93a45fc1a2fbd1, cad3479b63661a399c9df1d0b759e1806e2df3c8, 133f5e2a37ce08c82d24e8fba65e0a81deae4609, 230ca758453c63bd38e4d9f4a21db698f7abada8, 63b91c8ff4589f5263873b24c052447a28e10ef7, 6.13.11unaffected
LinuxLinux5.10.236, 5.15.180, 6.1.134, 6.6.87, 6.12.23, 6.14.2unaffected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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