CVE-2025-37970 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel, specifically within the Industrial I/O (IIO) subsystem's IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) driver for the STMicroelectronics LSM6DSX sensor series. The vulnerability arises in the function st_lsm6dsx_read_fifo, which is responsible for reading data from the device's FIFO buffer. The issue occurs when the pattern_len parameter is zero while the device FIFO is not empty, causing the function to enter an infinite loop. This infinite loop can lead to a kernel lockup, effectively causing a denial of service (DoS) condition on the affected system. The root cause is a missing or insufficient check for the pattern_len value before processing the FIFO data, which leads to the function never exiting the loop under these conditions. This vulnerability affects specific versions of the Linux kernel as indicated by the commit hash references, and it has been resolved by adding appropriate checks to prevent the infinite loop scenario. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. The vulnerability does not appear to require user interaction or authentication to be triggered, but it does require the presence of the affected hardware sensor and the corresponding driver in use. The impact is primarily on system availability due to potential kernel lockups caused by the infinite loop in the driver code.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-37970 is the risk of system instability and denial of service on Linux-based systems that utilize the ST LSM6DSX IMU sensor and its driver. This could affect embedded systems, industrial control systems, IoT devices, or any Linux servers and workstations equipped with this sensor hardware. Organizations in sectors such as manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and critical infrastructure that rely on sensor data for operational processes may experience disruptions. The kernel lockup could lead to system crashes or reboots, causing downtime and potential loss of data or operational continuity. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise confidentiality or integrity, the availability impact can have cascading effects on business operations and safety-critical systems. Since the vulnerability does not require user interaction or authentication, it could be triggered by local processes or potentially by malicious code running on the affected system, increasing the risk profile. However, the lack of known exploits in the wild and the hardware-specific nature of the vulnerability somewhat limit its immediate threat level. Nonetheless, organizations should prioritize patching to prevent potential exploitation and maintain system reliability.

To mitigate CVE-2025-37970, European organizations should take the following specific actions: 1) Identify all Linux systems using the ST LSM6DSX IMU sensor and verify the kernel versions and driver implementations in use. 2) Apply the official Linux kernel patches that address this vulnerability as soon as they become available from trusted sources or Linux distributions. 3) For embedded or IoT devices, coordinate with hardware vendors and device manufacturers to obtain updated firmware or kernel images that include the fix. 4) Implement monitoring to detect kernel lockups or unusual system hangs that could indicate attempts to trigger this vulnerability. 5) Restrict access to systems with the affected hardware to trusted users and processes to reduce the risk of local exploitation. 6) Conduct thorough testing of patched systems to ensure stability and compatibility, especially in industrial or safety-critical environments. 7) Maintain an inventory of devices with this sensor and track updates from Linux kernel maintainers and security advisories to stay informed of any further developments or exploit reports.