CVE-2025-38708: drbd: add missing kref_get in handle_write_conflicts

Published Sep 4, 2025
·
Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

drbd: add missing krefget in handlewriteconflicts

With two-primaries enabled, DRBD tries to detect "concurrent" writes and handle write conflicts, so that even if you write to the same sector simultaneously on both nodes, they end up with the identical data once the writes are completed.

In handling "superseeded" writes, we forgot a krefget, resulting in a premature drbddestroydevice and use after free, and further to kernel crashes with symptoms.

Relevance: No one should use DRBD as a random data generator, and apparently all users of "two-primaries" handle concurrent writes correctly on layer up. That is cluster file systems use some distributed lock manager, and live migration in virtualization environments stops writes on one node before starting writes on the other node.

Which means that other than for "test cases", this code path is never taken in real life.

FYI, in DRBD 9, things are handled differently nowadays. We still detect "write conflicts", but no longer try to be smart about them. We decided to disconnect hard instead: upper layers must not submit concurrent writes. If they do, that's their fault.

Affected Software

12 affected componentsFixes available
LINBIT DRBD
Microsoft azl3 kernel 6.6.96.2-1
Microsoft azl3 kernel 6.6.96.2-2
Linux Linux kernel>=4.5<5.4.297
Linux Linux kernel>=5.5<5.10.241
Linux Linux kernel>=5.11<5.15.190
Linux Linux kernel>=5.16<6.1.149
Linux Linux kernel>=6.2<6.6.103
Linux Linux kernel>=6.7<6.12.43
Linux Linux kernel>=6.13<6.15.11
Linux Linux kernel>=6.16<6.16.2
Debian Debian Linux=11.0

Event History

Sep 4, 2025
CVE Published
via MITRE·03:32 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·03:32 PM
DescriptionSeverity
Data Sourced
via NVD·04:15 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Sep 6, 2025
Data Sourced
via Microsoft·01:05 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Updated
via Microsoft·01:05 AM
SeverityAffected Software
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2025-38708?

CVE-2025-38708 has been classified with a medium severity level due to potential write conflicts in the DRBD implementation.

2

How do I fix CVE-2025-38708?

To fix CVE-2025-38708, it is recommended to update your LINBIT DRBD installation to the latest version that includes the security patch.

3

What systems are affected by CVE-2025-38708?

CVE-2025-38708 affects LINBIT DRBD when using the two-primaries configuration that allows concurrent writes.

4

What does CVE-2025-38708 involve?

CVE-2025-38708 involves a missing kref_get operation in the DRBD kernel module related to handling write conflicts.

5

Can CVE-2025-38708 lead to data corruption?

Yes, CVE-2025-38708 can potentially lead to data corruption if concurrent writes are not managed correctly.

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