CVE-2025-38116: Linux kernel · wifi: ath12k: fix uaf in ath12k_core_init()
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 6.14.0-1013.13~24.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 8% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 6.14.0-1013.13~24.04.1, 6.14.0-1007.7, 6.14.0-1016.17~24.04.1 +3
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 3 Jul 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Patches and advisories
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7770-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7771-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7789-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7789-2 (opens in a new tab)
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-aws-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-nvidia-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-gcp-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-gcp-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
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
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-38116 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-38116 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/f3fe49dbddd73f0155a8935af47cb63693069dbe (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/65e1b3404c211dcfaea02698539cdcd26647130f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f3fe49dbddd73f0155a8935af47cb63693069dbe (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7770-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7771-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7789-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7789-2 (opens in a new tab)