CVE-2025-38656: Linux kernel · wifi: iwlwifi: Fix error code in iwl_op_mode_dvm_start()
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in f95598a133a905fd937354ad902773d05593b8b9 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 10% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in f95598a133a905fd937354ad902773d05593b8b9, cf80c02a9fdb6c5bc8508beb6a0f6a1294fc32f6, 991e2066f6009d3cb898413058c62dbcc92bd6d2 +8
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 22 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 |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: iwlwifi: Fix error code in iwl_op_mode_dvm_start() Preserve the error code if iwl_setup_deferred_work() fails. The current code returns ERR_PTR(0) (which is NULL) on this path. I believe the missing error code potentially leads to a use after free involving debugfs.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5c432da1ee191e9f7830dd516456706063d7bec3 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f95598a133a905fd937354ad902773d05593b8b9 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/991e2066f6009d3cb898413058c62dbcc92bd6d2 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1d068272c21d886d06526454b68368100ba0a720 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/cf80c02a9fdb6c5bc8508beb6a0f6a1294fc32f6 (opens in a new tab)