CVE-2025-37849: Linux kernel · Use After Free
Source GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 13 Nov 2026, 19:20 UTC
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 9 May 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 13 Nov 2026.
What to do
AI-suggested
A patch has been applied to the Linux kernel to fix this issue by adding proper cleanup of vGIC vCPU structures on vCPU creation failure. Users should update to the fixed kernel versions once available. Since this is a kernel vulnerability, applying the official kernel update from the vendor or distribution is the recommended remediation. No alternative mitigations are indicated.
Description
CVE-2025-37849 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel's KVM subsystem for arm64 architectures. It involves improper cleanup of virtual Generic Interrupt Controller (vGIC) data when virtual CPU (vCPU) creation fails. This flaw can lead to memory leaks and use-after-free conditions, potentially allowing attackers with limited privileges to cause system instability or escalate privileges.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-37849 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/07476e0d932afc53c05468076393ac35d0b4999e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2480326eba8ae9ccc5e4c3c2dc8d407db68e3c52 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/250f25367b58d8c65a1b060a2dda037eea09a672 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5085e02362b9948f82fceca979b8f8e12acb1cc5 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c322789613407647a05ff5c451a7bf545fb34e73 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f1e9087abaeedec9bf2894a282ee4f0d8383f299 (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/05/msg00045.html (opens in a new tab)