CVE-2025-37945: Linux kernel · net: phy: allow MDIO bus PM ops to start/stop state machine for phylink-controlled PHY
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 6.8.0-1046.49~22.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 15:59 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 11% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 6.8.0-1046.49~22.04.1, 6.8.0-1051.57~22.04.1, 6.8.0-1047.50~22.04.2 +24
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 20 May 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: 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 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde@6.17.0-1017.17?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux@6.8.0-100.100?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws@6.8.0-1046.49?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure@6.8.0-1046.52?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11@6.11.0-1018.18~24.04.1?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde@6.8.0-1061.68?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A patch is available and has been released by the vendor. Users should update to the fixed Linux kernel versions as provided by their distribution. The Ubuntu advisory USN-7594-1 confirms that this and other kernel vulnerabilities have been addressed in updated kernel packages. Applying these official updates will mitigate the issue. No additional mitigation steps are indicated or required beyond applying the vendor-provided fixes.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's network PHY subsystem involving MDIO bus power management operations was resolved. The issue relates to improper handling of the PHY state machine during suspend/resume cycles in certain DSA drivers and other MAC drivers using phylink. This could lead to kernel warnings and potential system instability or crashes. The problem arises because the PHY state machine is not properly stopped on suspend, causing inconsistent PHY states on resume. This flaw affects multiple Linux kernel versions and has been fixed in updated kernel releases.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-37945 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-37945 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/fc75ea20ffb452652f0d4033f38fe88d7cfdae35 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/54e5d00a8de6c13f6c01a94ed48025e882cd15f7 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a6ed6f8ec81b8ca7100dcd9e62bdbc0dff1b2259 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/bd4037d51d3f6667636a1383e78e48a5b7b60755 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/fc75ea20ffb452652f0d4033f38fe88d7cfdae35 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7594-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7594-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7594-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8031-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8031-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-6 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8031-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8052-1 (opens in a new tab)