CVE-2025-37907 is a concurrency vulnerability in the Linux kernel specifically related to the ivpu (Imagination Video Processing Unit) driver. The issue arises from an inconsistent locking order between two locks: the submitted_jobs_lock and the file_priv lock. When a thread aborts currently executing jobs due to a fault, it first locks the submitted_jobs_lock and then attempts to lock the file_priv lock during job destruction and context release. Conversely, the job submission thread locks the file_priv lock first and then the submitted_jobs_lock when adding new jobs. This inconsistent lock acquisition order creates a classic deadlock scenario where two threads wait indefinitely for each other’s locks, causing the system to hang or stall. The vulnerability affects job submission and abort handling in the ivpu driver, which is responsible for managing video processing tasks on certain hardware. The fix involves changing the locking order in the ivpu_job_submit() function to ensure a consistent lock acquisition sequence, thereby preventing deadlocks. This vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require kernel-level access to trigger, and no known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The affected versions are specific Linux kernel builds identified by commit hashes, indicating the issue is present in certain recent kernel versions prior to the patch. Since the vulnerability impacts kernel-level synchronization, it can affect system stability and availability, particularly on systems utilizing the ivpu driver for video processing workloads.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-37907 is on system availability and stability. Systems running affected Linux kernel versions with the ivpu driver may experience deadlocks leading to hangs or crashes during video processing tasks. This can disrupt critical workloads in sectors relying on video processing or embedded Linux systems, such as telecommunications, media production, automotive, and industrial control systems. The deadlock could cause denial of service conditions, potentially affecting operational continuity. Confidentiality and integrity impacts are minimal since this is a deadlock rather than a memory corruption or privilege escalation vulnerability. However, the availability impact can be significant in environments where uptime and real-time processing are critical. European organizations using Linux-based infrastructure with ivpu hardware components should prioritize patching to maintain service reliability and avoid operational disruptions.

1. Apply the official Linux kernel patch that corrects the locking order in ivpu_job_submit() as soon as it is available and tested in your environment. 2. Identify and inventory systems using the ivpu driver, particularly those running affected kernel versions, to prioritize patch deployment. 3. For systems where immediate patching is not feasible, consider temporarily disabling or unloading the ivpu driver if video processing workloads are non-critical or can be rerouted. 4. Implement monitoring for kernel hangs or deadlocks related to video processing tasks to detect potential exploitation or manifestation of this issue early. 5. Coordinate with hardware vendors to confirm compatibility and support for patched kernel versions. 6. Incorporate this fix into standard kernel update cycles and ensure that embedded or specialized Linux distributions used in industrial or telecom environments are updated accordingly. 7. Conduct regression testing post-patch to ensure no adverse effects on video processing workloads or system stability.