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CVE Record

CVE-2025-40037: fbdev: simplefb: Fix use after free in simplefb_detach_genpds()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fbdev: simplefb: Fix use after free in simplefb_detach_genpds() The pm_domain cleanup can not be devres managed as it uses struct simplefb_par which is allocated within struct fb_info by framebuffer_alloc(). This allocation is explicitly freed by unregister_framebuffer() in simplefb_remove(). Devres managed cleanup runs after the device remove call and thus can no longer access struct simplefb_par. Call simplefb_detach_genpds() explicitly from simplefb_destroy() like the cleanup functions for clocks and regulators. Fixes an use after free on M2 Mac mini during aperture_remove_conflicting_devices() using the downstream asahi kernel with Debian's kernel config. For unknown reasons this started to consistently dereference an invalid pointer in v6.16.3 based kernels. [ 6.736134] BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in simplefb_detach_genpds+0x58/0x220 [ 6.743545] Read of size 4 at addr ffff8000304743f0 by task (udev-worker)/227 [ 6.750697] [ 6.752182] CPU: 6 UID: 0 PID: 227 Comm: (udev-worker) Tainted: G S 6.16.3-asahi+ #16 PREEMPTLAZY [ 6.752186] Tainted: [S]=CPU_OUT_OF_SPEC [ 6.752187] Hardware name: Apple Mac mini (M2, 2023) (DT) [ 6.752189] Call trace: [ 6.752190] show_stack+0x34/0x98 (C) [ 6.752194] dump_stack_lvl+0x60/0x80 [ 6.752197] print_report+0x17c/0x4d8 [ 6.752201] kasan_report+0xb4/0x100 [ 6.752206] __asan_report_load4_noabort+0x20/0x30 [ 6.752209] simplefb_detach_genpds+0x58/0x220 [ 6.752213] devm_action_release+0x50/0x98 [ 6.752216] release_nodes+0xd0/0x2c8 [ 6.752219] devres_release_all+0xfc/0x178 [ 6.752221] device_unbind_cleanup+0x28/0x168 [ 6.752224] device_release_driver_internal+0x34c/0x470 [ 6.752228] device_release_driver+0x20/0x38 [ 6.752231] bus_remove_device+0x1b0/0x380 [ 6.752234] device_del+0x314/0x820 [ 6.752238] platform_device_del+0x3c/0x1e8 [ 6.752242] platform_device_unregister+0x20/0x50 [ 6.752246] aperture_detach_platform_device+0x1c/0x30 [ 6.752250] aperture_detach_devices+0x16c/0x290 [ 6.752253] aperture_remove_conflicting_devices+0x34/0x50 ... [ 6.752343] [ 6.967409] Allocated by task 62: [ 6.970724] kasan_save_stack+0x3c/0x70 [ 6.974560] kasan_save_track+0x20/0x40 [ 6.978397] kasan_save_alloc_info+0x40/0x58 [ 6.982670] __kasan_kmalloc+0xd4/0xd8 [ 6.986420] __kmalloc_noprof+0x194/0x540 [ 6.990432] framebuffer_alloc+0xc8/0x130 [ 6.994444] simplefb_probe+0x258/0x2378 ... [ 7.054356] [ 7.055838] Freed by task 227: [ 7.058891] kasan_save_stack+0x3c/0x70 [ 7.062727] kasan_save_track+0x20/0x40 [ 7.066565] kasan_save_free_info+0x4c/0x80 [ 7.070751] __kasan_slab_free+0x6c/0xa0 [ 7.074675] kfree+0x10c/0x380 [ 7.077727] framebuffer_release+0x5c/0x90 [ 7.081826] simplefb_destroy+0x1b4/0x2c0 [ 7.085837] put_fb_info+0x98/0x100 [ 7.089326] unregister_framebuffer+0x178/0x320 [ 7.093861] simplefb_remove+0x3c/0x60 [ 7.097611] platform_remove+0x60/0x98 [ 7.101361] device_remove+0xb8/0x160 [ 7.105024] device_release_driver_internal+0x2fc/0x470 [ 7.110256] device_release_driver+0x20/0x38 [ 7.114529] bus_remove_device+0x1b0/0x380 [ 7.118628] device_del+0x314/0x820 [ 7.122116] platform_device_del+0x3c/0x1e8 [ 7.126302] platform_device_unregister+0x20/0x50 [ 7.131012] aperture_detach_platform_device+0x1c/0x30 [ 7.136157] aperture_detach_devices+0x16c/0x290 [ 7.140779] aperture_remove_conflicting_devices+0x34/0x50 ...

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2025-40037 is a Linux kernel use-after-free bug in the simple framebuffer driver cleanup path. The reported failure occurred during device removal on an Apple M2 Mac mini using a downstream Asahi kernel configuration. Business impact is uncertain because the public record does not provide CVSS, CWE, exploitability, or broad product impact details.

Executive priority

Track for normal kernel maintenance unless your fleet includes Apple Silicon Linux, custom kernels, or systems relying on simplefb. Escalate if vendors rate it higher or if crashes appear in production telemetry.

Technical view

The bug is in fbdev simplefb: devres-managed pm_domain cleanup calls simplefb_detach_genpds() after unregister_framebuffer() has freed simplefb_par. The fix moves generic power-domain detach into simplefb_destroy(), matching clock and regulator cleanup order. KASAN observed slab-use-after-free during aperture_remove_conflicting_devices().

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to Linux systems using the simplefb driver and the affected cleanup path. The source bundle lists Linux kernel versions/branches including 6.8, 6.12.53, 6.17.3, and 6.18, but does not provide a clear affected-version range.

Exploitation context

No active exploitation is stated. KEV is false, and the supplied sources describe a KASAN-detected crash/use-after-free during kernel device removal, not a public exploit or attacker workflow.

Researcher notes

The public evidence supports a real kernel memory-safety flaw, but not exploitability. Key unknowns are privilege requirements, attacker control, affected version boundaries, and whether non-Asahi configurations can trigger the same path reliably.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply Linux kernel updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Check distribution or device vendor advisories for CVE-2025-40037 coverage.
  • Prioritize systems using simplefb, fbdev, or downstream Asahi-style Apple Silicon kernels.
  • Where patch timing is unclear, ask the vendor for fixed package versions.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions and downstream kernel builds in use.
  • Check kernel package changelogs for CVE-2025-40037 or the referenced commit IDs.
  • Review boot and kernel logs for simplefb, KASAN, or aperture_remove_conflicting_devices errors.
  • Confirm vendor kernel source includes the simplefb_destroy() cleanup-order fix.
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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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
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.

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

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
LinuxLinux92a511a568e44cf11681a2223cae4d576a1a515d, 92a511a568e44cf11681a2223cae4d576a1a515d, 92a511a568e44cf11681a2223cae4d576a1a515dunaffected
LinuxLinux6.8, 0, 6.12.53, 6.17.3, 6.18affected
Weakness

CWE details

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