CVE-2025-37887 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically related to the pds_core driver component. The issue arises when the firmware (FW) does not support the PDS_CORE_CMD_FW_CONTROL command. Under these circumstances, the driver fails to properly initialize a stack variable named fw_list. This lack of initialization leads to the variable fw_list.num_fw_slots containing an unpredictable garbage value from the stack. Subsequently, the driver attempts to access fw_list.fw_names[i] where the index i can exceed the bounds of the array (i >= ARRAY_SIZE), resulting in an out-of-bounds read or write. This memory access violation can cause the driver to print garbage data or, more critically, crash the system when a user executes the "devlink dev info" command. The root cause is improper handling of the failure scenario when the devcmd fails due to unsupported firmware commands. The fix involves initializing the fw_list structure to zero and modifying the error handling logic to avoid complete failure, allowing other useful information to be displayed even if the devcmd fails. This vulnerability is a classic example of insufficient input validation and improper error handling in kernel driver code, which can lead to system instability or denial of service.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to systems running affected Linux kernel versions with the vulnerable pds_core driver. The impact ranges from system instability to potential denial of service (DoS) due to kernel crashes triggered by a user running a specific devlink command. While the vulnerability does not appear to allow privilege escalation or remote code execution directly, the ability to crash the kernel can disrupt critical services, especially in environments relying heavily on Linux servers, embedded systems, or network infrastructure devices using this driver. Organizations in sectors such as telecommunications, cloud service providers, and industrial control systems that use Linux-based devices could experience service interruptions. Additionally, the vulnerability could be exploited by local users or automated scripts to cause repeated crashes, impacting availability and operational continuity. Given the Linux kernel's widespread use in European data centers, enterprises, and government infrastructure, the vulnerability's impact on availability is significant, particularly in high-availability or real-time systems.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Identify and inventory Linux systems running kernel versions containing the vulnerable pds_core driver. 2) Apply the official Linux kernel patches or updates that initialize the fw_list variable and improve error handling as soon as they become available. 3) If immediate patching is not feasible, restrict access to the devlink command to trusted administrators only, minimizing the risk of accidental or malicious triggering of the crash. 4) Implement monitoring for kernel crashes and unusual devlink command usage to detect potential exploitation attempts. 5) For critical systems, consider deploying kernel live patching solutions to reduce downtime during patch application. 6) Engage with Linux distribution vendors for backported patches and security advisories relevant to specific distributions used. 7) Conduct thorough testing of patches in staging environments to ensure stability before production deployment. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control to the devlink interface and proactive monitoring tailored to this vulnerability's exploitation vector.