CVE-2025-38116: wifi: ath12k: fix uaf in ath12k_core_init()

Published Jul 3, 2025
·
Updated

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

wifi: ath12k: fix uaf in ath12kcoreinit()

When the execution of ath12kcorehwgroupassign() or ath12kcorehwgroupcreate() 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 ath12kcorepanicnotifierunregister() in failure cases.

Call trace: notifierchainregister+0x4c/0x1f0 (P) atomicnotifierchainregister+0x38/0x68 ath12kcoreinit+0x50/0x4e8 [ath12k] ath12kpciprobe+0x5f8/0xc28 [ath12k] pcideviceprobe+0xbc/0x1a8 reallyprobe+0xc8/0x3a0 driverprobedevice+0x84/0x1b0 driverprobedevice+0x44/0x130 driverattach+0xcc/0x208 busforeachdev+0x84/0x100 driverattach+0x2c/0x40 busadddriver+0x130/0x260 driverregister+0x70/0x138 pciregisterdriver+0x68/0x80 ath12kpciinit+0x30/0x68 [ath12k] ath12kinit+0x28/0x78 [ath12k]

Tested-on: WCN7850 hw2.0 PCI WLAN.HMT.1.0.c5-00481-QCAHMTSWPLV1.0V2.0SILICONZ-3

Affected Software

7 affected components
Linux Kernel
Linux Linux kernel>=6.14<6.15.3
Linux Linux kernel=6.16-rc1
IBM Verify Identity Access<=11.0 - 11.0.2
IBM Security Verify Access<=10.0 - 10.0.9.1
IBM Verify Identity Access Container<=11.0 - 11.0.2
IBM Security Verify Access Container<=10.0 - 10.0.9.1

Event History

Jul 3, 2025
CVE Published
via MITRE·08:35 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·08:35 AM
Description
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·09:03 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Data Sourced
via NVD·09:15 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Jul 8, 2026
Data Sourced
via IBM·12:00 AM
DescriptionAffected Software

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2025-38116?

CVE-2025-38116 has a severity rating classified as medium due to potential memory corruption issues in the Linux kernel.

2

How do I fix CVE-2025-38116?

To resolve CVE-2025-38116, it is recommended to update to the latest stable version of the Linux kernel that includes the patch for the vulnerability.

3

What systems are affected by CVE-2025-38116?

CVE-2025-38116 specifically affects systems running the Linux kernel with the ath12k driver.

4

What is the nature of the vulnerability in CVE-2025-38116?

CVE-2025-38116 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the ath12k module, which can lead to undefined behavior or system crashes.

5

When was CVE-2025-38116 disclosed and patched?

CVE-2025-38116 was disclosed and patched in the Linux kernel releases following the identification of the issue.

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