Critical Mutex Replacement Vulnerability in Linux Kernel Package
Summary
DEBIAN-CVE-2025-38388: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: firmware: arm_ffa: Replace mutex with rwlock to avoid sleep in atomic context The current use of a mutex to protect the notifier hashtable accesses can... Affects linux versions < 6.12.37-1. Fixed in 6.12.37-1. How to fix ↓
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Background
The Linux kernel is the core component of many operating systems, responsible for managing hardware resources and providing essential services to software applications. It is known for its stability, performance, and flexibility, making it a popular choice for servers, desktops, and embedded systems. However, vulnerabilities can arise, such as the one identified in this report, which involves the improper use of mutexes that can lead to kernel warnings and potential system instability.
Vulnerability Detail
In the Linux kernel, a vulnerability has been identified where the use of a mutex to protect the notifier hashtable accesses can lead to issues in atomic context. This can result in kernel warnings indicating that a sleeping function was called from an invalid context, which may lead to system instability and unexpected behavior. The vulnerability is rooted in the design choice of using a mutex instead of a read-write lock (rwlock), which can cause contention and potential deadlocks during concurrent access.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
6.12.37-1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade linuxTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
Currently, there are no specific workarounds mentioned for this vulnerability. The best course of action is to apply the patch by updating to the fixed version of the Linux kernel.
Conclusion
In summary, the Linux kernel has a critical vulnerability related to the improper use of mutexes that can lead to system instability. It is crucial to update to the patched version 6.12.37-1 to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help monitor and alert for such vulnerabilities in real-time.
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FAQ
The vulnerability involves the improper use of a mutex in the Linux kernel, which can lead to kernel warnings and potential system instability.
You can check if your application is affected by using Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Visit Vulert Scanner to use the Vulert playground without any signup.
Failure to address this vulnerability may result in kernel warnings, system instability, and unexpected behavior during concurrent operations.
Yes, you should upgrade to version 6.12.37-1 or later to ensure that the vulnerability is fixed.
You can update your Linux kernel by running the command: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install linux=6.12.37-1 in your terminal.
References
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