CVE-2025-38116 wifi: ath12k: fix uaf in ath12k_core_init()
A use-after-free vulnerability in the ath12k WiFi driver allows attackers to cause denial of service or execute code via improper notifier chain cleanup.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2025-38116?
CVE-2025-38116 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 3 Jul 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
wifi: ath12k: fix uaf in ath12k_core_init()
When the execution of ath12k_core_hw_group_assign() or ath12k_core_hw_group_create() fails, the registered notifier chain is not unregistered properly. Its memory is freed after rmmod, which may trigger to a use-after-free (UAF) issue if there is a subsequent access to this notifier chain.
Fixes the issue by calling ath12k_core_panic_notifier_unregister() in failure cases.
Call trace: notifier_chain_register+0x4c/0x1f0 (P) atomic_notifier_chain_register+0x38/0x68 ath12k_core_init+0x50/0x4e8 [ath12k] ath12k_pci_probe+0x5f8/0xc28 [ath12k] pci_device_probe+0xbc/0x1a8 really_probe+0xc8/0x3a0 __driver_probe_device+0x84/0x1b0 driver_probe_device+0x44/0x130 __driver_attach+0xcc/0x208 bus_for_each_dev+0x84/0x100 driver_attach+0x2c/0x40 bus_add_driver+0x130/0x260 driver_register+0x70/0x138 __pci_register_driver+0x68/0x80 ath12k_pci_init+0x30/0x68 [ath12k] ath12k_init+0x28/0x78 [ath12k]
Tested-on: WCN7850 hw2.0 PCI WLAN.HMT.1.0.c5-00481-QCAHMTSWPL_V1.0_V2.0_SILICONZ-3
Weakness: CWE-416
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-38116?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2025-38116?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2025-38116 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-38116 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2025-38116, GHSA-r89f-gr53-57qh, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38116.