CVE-2025-37746 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel related to the handling of PCI device structures within the perf subsystem, specifically in the dwc_pcie driver. The root cause lies in the improper use of the struct device pci_dev as platform_data during the platform_device_register process. This misuse leads to a kernel memory duplication (kmemdup) of the pci_dev structure. However, the duplicated device still references the same mutex content as the original device, including critical list pointers and magic values. Consequently, accessing the duplicated device results in corruption of kernel linked lists, which are fundamental data structures used for managing device states and synchronization. This list corruption can cause undefined behavior in the kernel, including potential deadlocks, race conditions, or kernel crashes (kernel panic). Since the kernel mutex and list integrity are compromised, this vulnerability could be exploited to destabilize the system or escalate privileges by manipulating kernel memory structures. The vulnerability affects specific Linux kernel versions identified by the commit hash af9597adc2f1e3609c67c9792a2469bb64e43ae9, and it was publicly disclosed on May 1, 2025. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. The issue was resolved by correcting the handling of the pci_dev device duplication to prevent list corruption and mutex misuse.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk primarily to systems running affected Linux kernel versions, especially those utilizing the dwc_pcie driver or similar PCI device management subsystems. The impact includes potential system instability, denial of service through kernel crashes, and possible privilege escalation if attackers can exploit the corrupted kernel structures. This is particularly critical for data centers, cloud service providers, telecommunications infrastructure, and industrial control systems that rely heavily on Linux-based platforms. Disruption in these environments could lead to service outages, data loss, or unauthorized access to sensitive systems. Given the kernel-level nature of the vulnerability, successful exploitation could compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems. European organizations with critical infrastructure or those subject to stringent data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR) must consider the operational and compliance risks associated with this vulnerability.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Immediately apply the official Linux kernel patches that address CVE-2025-37746 once available, ensuring that all affected systems are updated to a fixed kernel version. 2) Conduct an inventory of Linux systems to identify those running affected kernel versions, particularly focusing on systems using PCI devices managed by the dwc_pcie driver or similar subsystems. 3) Implement kernel integrity monitoring tools to detect abnormal kernel behavior or crashes that might indicate exploitation attempts. 4) Restrict access to systems with affected kernels to trusted administrators and limit exposure to untrusted networks to reduce the attack surface. 5) For environments where immediate patching is not feasible, consider deploying kernel live patching solutions or isolating vulnerable systems to minimize risk. 6) Monitor security advisories and threat intelligence feeds for any emerging exploit attempts targeting this vulnerability. 7) Review and strengthen system hardening policies, including disabling unnecessary PCI devices or drivers if possible, to reduce potential exploitation vectors.