CVE-2025-38605 wifi: ath12k: Pass ab pointer directly to ath12k_dp_tx_get_encap_type()
A null pointer dereference in the ath12k WiFi driver can cause a kernel panic during vdev deletion, leading to denial of service.
- 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-2025-38605?
CVE-2025-38605 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 19 Aug 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: Pass ab pointer directly to ath12k_dp_tx_get_encap_type()
In ath12k_dp_tx_get_encap_type(), the arvif parameter is only used to retrieve the ab pointer. In vdev delete sequence the arvif->ar could become NULL and that would trigger kernel panic. Since the caller ath12k_dp_tx() already has a valid ab pointer, pass it directly to avoid panic and unnecessary dereferencing.
PC points to "ath12k_dp_tx+0x228/0x988 [ath12k]" LR points to "ath12k_dp_tx+0xc8/0x988 [ath12k]". The Backtrace obtained is as follows: ath12k_dp_tx+0x228/0x988 [ath12k] ath12k_mac_tx_check_max_limit+0x608/0x920 [ath12k] ieee80211_process_measurement_req+0x320/0x348 [mac80211] ieee80211_tx_dequeue+0x9ac/0x1518 [mac80211] ieee80211_tx_dequeue+0xb14/0x1518 [mac80211] ieee80211_tx_prepare_skb+0x224/0x254 [mac80211] ieee80211_xmit+0xec/0x100 [mac80211] __ieee80211_subif_start_xmit+0xc50/0xf40 [mac80211] ieee80211_subif_start_xmit+0x2e8/0x308 [mac80211] netdev_start_xmit+0x150/0x18c dev_hard_start_xmit+0x74/0xc0
Tested-on: QCN9274 hw2.0 PCI WLAN.WBE.1.3.1-00173-QCAHKSWPL_SILICONZ-1
Weakness: CWE-476
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-38605?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2025-38605?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2025-38605 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-38605 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2025-38605, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-38605, GHSA-6q42-8x5p-5c72, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-13-CVE-2025-38605, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2404-CVE-2025-38605, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38605.