Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: IB/mlx5: Fix potential...
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
IB/mlx5: Fix potential deadlock in MR deregistration
The issue arises when kzalloc() is invoked while holding umem_mutex or
any other lock acquired under umem_mutex. This is problematic because
kzalloc() can trigger fs_reclaim_aqcuire(), which may, in turn, invoke
mmu_notifier_invalidate_range_start(). This function can lead to
mlx5_ib_invalidate_range(), which attempts to acquire umem_mutex again,
resulting in a deadlock.
The problematic flow:
CPU0 | CPU1
---------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------
mlx5_ib_dereg_mr() |
→ revoke_mr() |
→ mutex_lock(&umem_odp->umem_mutex) |
| mlx5_mkey_cache_init()
| → mutex_lock(&dev->cache.rb_lock)
| → mlx5r_cache_create_ent_locked()
| → kzalloc(GFP_KERNEL)
| → fs_reclaim()
| → mmu_notifier_invalidate_range_start()
| → mlx5_ib_invalidate_range()
| → mutex_lock(&umem_odp->umem_mutex)
→ cache_ent_find_and_store() |
→ mutex_lock(&dev->cache.rb_lock) |
Additionally, when kzalloc() is called from within
cache_ent_find_and_store(), we encounter the same deadlock due to
re-acquisition of umem_mutex.
Solve by releasing umem_mutex in dereg_mr() after umr_revoke_mr()
and before acquiring rb_lock. This ensures that we don't hold
umem_mutex while performing memory allocations that could trigger
the reclaim path.
This change prevents the deadlock by ensuring proper lock ordering and
avoiding holding locks during memory allocation operations that could
trigger the reclaim path.
The following lockdep warning demonstrates the deadlock:
python3/20557 is trying to acquire lock:
ffff888387542128 (&umem_odp->umem_mutex){+.+.}-{4:4}, at:
mlx5_ib_invalidate_range+0x5b/0x550 [mlx5_ib]
but task is already holding lock:
ffffffff82f6b840 (mmu_notifier_invalidate_range_start){+.+.}-{0:0}, at:
unmap_vmas+0x7b/0x1a0
which lock already depends on the new lock.
the existing dependency chain (in reverse order) is:
-> #3 (mmu_notifier_invalidate_range_start){+.+.}-{0:0}:
fs_reclaim_acquire+0x60/0xd0
mem_cgroup_css_alloc+0x6f/0x9b0
cgroup_init_subsys+0xa4/0x240
cgroup_init+0x1c8/0x510
start_kernel+0x747/0x760
x86_64_start_reservations+0x25/0x30
x86_64_start_kernel+0x73/0x80
common_startup_64+0x129/0x138
-> #2 (fs_reclaim){+.+.}-{0:0}:
fs_reclaim_acquire+0x91/0xd0
__kmalloc_cache_noprof+0x4d/0x4c0
mlx5r_cache_create_ent_locked+0x75/0x620 [mlx5_ib]
mlx5_mkey_cache_init+0x186/0x360 [mlx5_ib]
mlx5_ib_stage_post_ib_reg_umr_init+0x3c/0x60 [mlx5_ib]
__mlx5_ib_add+0x4b/0x190 [mlx5_ib]
mlx5r_probe+0xd9/0x320 [mlx5_ib]
auxiliary_bus_probe+0x42/0x70
really_probe+0xdb/0x360
__driver_probe_device+0x8f/0x130
driver_probe_device+0x1f/0xb0
__driver_attach+0xd4/0x1f0
bus_for_each_dev+0x79/0xd0
bus_add_driver+0xf0/0x200
driver_register+0x6e/0xc0
__auxiliary_driver_register+0x6a/0xc0
do_one_initcall+0x5e/0x390
do_init_module+0x88/0x240
init_module_from_file+0x85/0xc0
idempotent_init_module+0x104/0x300
__x64_sys_finit_module+0x68/0xc0
do_syscall_64+0x6d/0x140
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x4b/0x53
-> #1 (&dev->cache.rb_lock){+.+.}-{4:4}:
__mutex_lock+0x98/0xf10
__mlx5_ib_dereg_mr+0x6f2/0x890 [mlx5_ib]
mlx5_ib_dereg_mr+0x21/0x110 [mlx5_ib]
ib_dereg_mr_user+0x85/0x1f0 [ib_core]
---truncated---
Impact
CVE-2025-38373 has a CVSS score of 5.5 (Medium). The vector is requires local access, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. No fixed version is listed yet, so configuration controls and monitoring matter more in the interim.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2025-38373? CVE-2025-38373 is a medium-severity security vulnerability. No fixed version is listed yet.
- How severe is CVE-2025-38373? CVE-2025-38373 has a CVSS score of 5.5 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2025-38373? No fixed version is listed for CVE-2025-38373 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
- Is CVE-2025-38373 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2025-38373 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2025-38373 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.