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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2025-37957: Linux kernel · KVM: SVM: Forcibly leave SMM mode on SHUTDOWN interception

Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database

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Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.8 High · fixed in 5.15.81 : patch Linux kernel soon.

Data as of 30 Oct 2026, 14:03 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
8.8High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.

Thin evidence

One scorer or none
CVSS scores by source
CNA (Linux)CVSS 3.18.8
Patch
Available – fixed in 5.15.81
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 20 May 2025

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponized: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq 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 30 Oct 2026.

What to do

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
Linux LinuxAffected
  • =5.15.81
  • =6.0.11
Fixed in–

AI-suggested

A fix is available in Linux kernel versions 5.15.81 and 6.0.11. Users and administrators should upgrade to these or later patched versions to remediate the vulnerability. No additional mitigation steps are indicated beyond applying the official kernel updates.

Description

CVE-2025-37957 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel's KVM subsystem affecting SVM (AMD virtualization). It involves improper handling of System Management Mode (SMM) during SHUTDOWN interception, causing a kernel warning and potential instability. The issue arises when KVM forces a vCPU INIT after SHUTDOWN interception while the vCPU remains in SMM, which was not properly handled before. This flaw was identified using Syzkaller and fixed by ensuring the vCPU forcibly leaves SMM mode on SHUTDOWN interception.

References

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