Kernel Vulnerability in Linux: Race Condition in Nouveau Fence Handling
Summary
CVE-2025-37930: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/nouveau: Fix WARN_ON in nouveau_fence_context_kill() Nouveau is mostly designed in a way that it's expected that fences only ever get signaled throu... Affects linux versions 5.10.103-1 – 6.9.9-1. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The Linux kernel is the core component of many operating systems, providing essential services for all other parts of the system. It manages hardware resources and enables communication between software and hardware. The Nouveau driver is an open-source graphics device driver for NVIDIA graphics cards, which relies on a system of fences to manage the synchronization of tasks. This vulnerability arises from a race condition in the handling of these fences, potentially leading to system instability.
Vulnerability Detail
In the Linux kernel, specifically within the Nouveau driver, a vulnerability has been identified that involves a race condition in the signaling of fences. The function nouveau_fence_done() can signal fences unexpectedly, which may lead to a situation where a fence that has already been signaled remains in the pending list. If the function nouveau_fence_context_kill() is executed during this time, it attempts to set an error code on an already signaled fence, resulting in undefined behavior and potential system crashes.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
Currently, there are no specific workarounds mentioned for this vulnerability. It is recommended to apply the patch as soon as it becomes available.
Conclusion
The CVE-2025-37930 vulnerability in the Linux kernel's Nouveau driver poses a significant risk due to a race condition in fence handling. Users are strongly encouraged to update their systems to the latest patched version to mitigate potential risks. Regular monitoring and prompt updates are essential for maintaining system security.
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FAQ
CVE-2025-37930 is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's Nouveau driver that involves a race condition in the handling of fences, potentially leading to system instability.
If exploited, this vulnerability can cause unexpected behavior in the graphics subsystem, leading to crashes or instability in applications that rely on the Nouveau driver.
To check if your application is affected by this vulnerability, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner without any signup.
While there are no specific workarounds, it is advisable to monitor your system for unusual behavior and apply the kernel update as soon as possible.
More detailed information can be found in the official CVE database or through the Linux kernel mailing lists and documentation.
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