CVE-2025-37981 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically within the smartpqi SCSI driver. The issue arises from the driver's method of determining whether it is operating in a kdump kernel environment. The smartpqi driver traditionally uses the reset_devices variable to decide if special adjustments are necessary during kdump operations. However, this approach leads to unintended consequences after a regular kexec reboot, such as the max_transfer_size parameter being set to a much lower value than normal. More critically, testing with kexec reboot scenarios revealed memory corruption caused by the driver log being written directly into system memory after a kexec event. This memory corruption can potentially destabilize the system or cause unpredictable behavior. The root cause is the incorrect use of reset_devices instead of the more appropriate is_kdump_kernel() function to detect the kdump kernel context. The fix involves replacing the reset_devices check with is_kdump_kernel() where applicable, ensuring that the driver correctly identifies the kdump environment and avoids improper parameter adjustments and memory corruption. This vulnerability affects specific versions of the Linux kernel as indicated by the affected commit hashes, and no known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The lack of a CVSS score suggests that this is a recently published issue with limited exploitation evidence so far.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to systems running Linux kernels with the affected smartpqi driver versions, particularly those utilizing kexec and kdump functionalities for crash dumping and system recovery. The memory corruption issue could lead to system instability, crashes, or denial of service conditions, impacting availability of critical infrastructure. Organizations relying on Linux servers for storage or data center operations that use smartpqi-based SCSI controllers may experience disruptions. While the vulnerability does not directly expose confidentiality or integrity breaches, the resulting system instability could indirectly affect business continuity and operational reliability. Given the widespread use of Linux in European enterprises, especially in sectors like finance, telecommunications, and public services, the impact could be significant if unpatched systems are rebooted using kexec. However, the absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the potential for future exploitation remains if attackers develop techniques to trigger the memory corruption.

European organizations should prioritize updating their Linux kernels to versions that include the patch replacing reset_devices checks with is_kdump_kernel() in the smartpqi driver. System administrators should audit their environments to identify systems using the affected smartpqi driver versions and verify if kexec and kdump functionalities are in use. Where possible, temporarily disabling kexec-based reboots or kdump until patches are applied can reduce risk. Additionally, monitoring system logs for unusual memory corruption or crashes following kexec reboots can help detect exploitation attempts. Organizations should also ensure robust backup and recovery procedures are in place to mitigate potential availability impacts. Collaboration with Linux distribution vendors to obtain timely patches and applying kernel updates during maintenance windows is critical. Finally, security teams should stay alert for any emerging exploit reports related to this vulnerability to adjust defenses accordingly.