Kernel Memory Management Flaw in Linux Affecting NetFS Functionality

CVE-2025-37876

Summary

A flaw within the Linux kernel's memory management implementation can lead to system crashes under specific configuration settings. When CONFIG_NETFS_SUPPORTS is enabled while CONFIG_PROC_FS is disabled, attempts to allocate memory through the netfs functionality can trigger critical errors, causing the system to fail. The issue stems from an improper setup within netfs_init(), where the /proc/fs/netfs directory is prematurely created without necessary configurations, leading to memory allocation failures. This vulnerability needs to be addressed to prevent potential instability in systems relying on the netfs feature.

References