CVE-2025-68729 wifi: ath12k: Fix MSDU buffer types handling in RX error path
A flaw in the ath12k Wi-Fi driver causes kernel crashes and memory leaks when processing specific error packets, requiring a patch to prevent denial of service.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2025-68729?
CVE-2025-68729 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Linux, published on 24 Dec 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 MSDU buffer types handling in RX error path
Currently, packets received on the REO exception ring from unassociated peers are of MSDU buffer type, while the driver expects link descriptor type packets. These packets are not parsed further due to a return check on packet type in ath12k_hal_desc_reo_parse_err(), but the associated skb is not freed. This may lead to kernel crashes and buffer leaks.
Hence to fix, update the RX error handler to explicitly drop MSDU buffer type packets received on the REO exception ring. This prevents further processing of invalid packets and ensures stability in the RX error handling path.
Tested-on: QCN9274 hw2.0 PCI WLAN.WBE.1.4.1-00199-QCAHKSWPL_SILICONZ-1
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-68729?
How do I fix CVE-2025-68729?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.
Is CVE-2025-68729 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-68729 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2025-68729, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-68729, GHSA-7x6p-f8qc-r9hq, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-13-CVE-2025-68729, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2404-CVE-2025-68729, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-68729.