CVE-2025-38605: Linux kernel · wifi: ath12k: Pass ab pointer directly to ath12k_dp_tx_get_encap_type()
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 9% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1, 6.14.0-1020.21~24.04.1, 6.14.0-1016.16 +2
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 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.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde@6.17.0-1017.17?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux@6.8.0-136.136?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws@6.8.0-1060.63?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-aws-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14@6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure@6.8.0-1062.69?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11@6.11.0-1018.18~24.04.1?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
An official patch is available and should be applied to affected Linux kernel versions. The Ubuntu security advisory USN-7879-1 confirms that this and other kernel vulnerabilities have been fixed. Users should update to a patched kernel version to remediate this issue.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ath12k WiFi driver could cause a kernel panic due to improper pointer handling during the vdev delete sequence. The flaw occurs because the arvif->ar pointer may become NULL, leading to a dereference that triggers a panic. This issue has been fixed by passing a valid pointer directly to avoid unnecessary dereferencing. The vulnerability affects multiple specific Linux kernel versions and has a medium severity rating with a CVSS score of 5.5.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-38605 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-38605 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/05062834350f0bf7ad1abcebc2807220e90220eb (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/05062834350f0bf7ad1abcebc2807220e90220eb (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b508f370f88f277c95e2bd3bc47217a96d668cee (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ee4f8e7fa578f9f28cef5f409677db25f4f83d7e (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-7879-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7934-1 (opens in a new tab)