CVE-2025-38509: Linux kernel · wifi: mac80211: reject VHT opmode for unsupported channel widths
Source GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Low : upgrade to 58fcb1b4287ce38850402bb2bb16d09bf77b91d9 or 18eca59a04500b68a90e0c5c873f97c9d1ea2bfa when convenient.
Data as of 13 Nov 2026, 20:35 UTC
Thin evidence
One scorer or none- Patch
- Available – fixed in 58fcb1b4287ce38850402bb2bb16d09bf77b91d9, 18eca59a04500b68a90e0c5c873f97c9d1ea2bfa
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 16 Aug 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: 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 13 Nov 2026.
What to do
Upgrade Linux kernel to 58fcb1b4287ce38850402bb2bb16d09bf77b91d9 or 18eca59a04500b68a90e0c5c873f97c9d1ea2bfa.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
A fix is available that rejects unsupported VHT channel widths early in the processing of opmode notifications. Users should apply the updated Linux kernel version containing this patch to prevent malformed notifications from causing kernel warnings and potential instability.
Description
CVE-2025-38509 is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's mac80211 wireless subsystem where VHT operating mode notifications for unsupported channel widths below 20 MHz (such as 5 MHz and 10 MHz) were not properly rejected. This could cause malformed notifications to trigger a kernel warning (WARN_ON) due to invalid input. The issue has been addressed by rejecting unsupported widths early in the processing of VHT opmode notifications.