Race Condition in Linux Kernel Mount Handling

CVE-2025-37988

What is CVE-2025-37988?

An issue has been identified in the Linux kernel related to race conditions during mount handling, particularly affecting the do_lock_mount() and unlock_mount() processes. The vulnerability arises when the proper locking mechanisms are not in place, potentially leading to states where filesystem operations such as mount moves or unmounts can cause critical inconsistencies. Specifically, the locking behavior in relation to mountpoints and dentry structures can result in a loss of references to mounts while the filesystem is still operational, risking system stability and data integrity. Enhanced locking strategies have been proposed to mitigate these risks by ensuring that locks are acquired in a manner that secures the integrity of filesystem operations.

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