CVE-2025-38604: Linux kernel · wifi: rtl818x: Kill URBs before clearing tx status queue
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 5.15.0-1097.104~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 7% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1097.104~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1102.111~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1097.106~20.04.1 +63
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 19 Aug 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-7879-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7879-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7880-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7879-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7879-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7910-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7910-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7933-1 (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 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=nobleOther 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-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?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– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A patch is available and has been incorporated into Linux kernel version 6.14.0 and later. Users should update their Linux kernel to version 6.14.0 or newer and reboot their systems to apply the fix. Due to an ABI change, recompilation and reinstallation of third-party kernel modules may be necessary. Follow vendor-specific update instructions, such as those provided by Ubuntu security notices USN-7879-1 and USN-7879-2.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's rtl818x WiFi driver was resolved by changing the order of operations in rtl8187_stop() to kill USB Request Blocks (URBs) before clearing the transmit status queue. This prevents use-after-free conditions that could lead to kernel NULL pointer dereferences. The issue was fixed in Linux kernel version 6.14.0 and later. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.8, indicating high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, but requires local privileges and user interaction. No known exploits are reported in the wild. A patch is available and users are advised to update and reboot their systems.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-38604 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-38604 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/16d8fd74dbfca0ea58645cd2fca13be10cae3cdd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/14ca6952691fa8cc91e7644512e6ff24a595283f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/16d8fd74dbfca0ea58645cd2fca13be10cae3cdd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7858a95566f4ebf59524666683d2dcdba3fca968 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/81cfe34d0630de4e23ae804dcc08fb6f861dc37d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8c767727f331fb9455b0f81daad832b5925688cb (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c51a45ad9070a6d296174fcbe5c466352836c12b (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7879-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7879-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7880-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7879-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7879-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7910-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7910-2 (opens in a new tab)