CVE-2025-38159 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 07/03/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
wifi: rtw88: fix the 'para' buffer size to avoid reading out of bounds
Set the size to 6 instead of 2, since 'para' array is passed to 'rtw_fw_bt_wifi_control(rtwdev, para[0], ¶[1])', which reads
5 bytes:
void rtw_fw_bt_wifi_control(struct rtw_dev *rtwdev, u8 op_code, u8 *data) {
... SET_BT_WIFI_CONTROL_DATA1(h2c_pkt, *data); SET_BT_WIFI_CONTROL_DATA2(h2c_pkt, *(data + 1)); ... SET_BT_WIFI_CONTROL_DATA5(h2c_pkt, *(data + 4));
Detected using the static analysis tool - Svace.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-38159 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the rtw88 wireless driver component of the Linux kernel. This issue specifically affects the handling of the para buffer in the Bluetooth-WiFi coexistence functionality, where an insufficient buffer size allocation creates a potential for out-of-bounds memory reads. The vulnerability stems from a fundamental miscalculation in buffer dimensioning that directly impacts the driver's ability to safely process Bluetooth-WiFi control commands.
The technical flaw manifests when the rtw88 driver processes Bluetooth-WiFi coexistence commands through the rtw_fw_bt_wifi_control function. The para array is designed to hold data for Bluetooth-WiFi control operations but was incorrectly sized at only 2 bytes instead of the required 6 bytes. This sizing error becomes problematic because the function rtw_fw_bt_wifi_control expects to read 5 bytes of data starting from the second element of the para array, as indicated by the code pattern where data is accessed at positions data, data+1, data+2, data+3, and data+4. The static analysis tool Svace detected this inconsistency during code review, highlighting the potential for memory corruption when the driver attempts to read beyond the allocated buffer boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory access violations, as it could potentially enable attackers to manipulate the wireless driver's behavior through carefully crafted Bluetooth-WiFi control commands. This type of out-of-bounds read could result in unpredictable system behavior, including driver crashes, memory corruption, or even privilege escalation opportunities depending on the execution context. The vulnerability affects systems utilizing the rtw88 driver for wireless networking, particularly those implementing Bluetooth-WiFi coexistence mechanisms that rely on the specific function call pattern described in the patch. The flaw is particularly concerning in environments where wireless networking is critical, such as enterprise networks or IoT deployments where wireless connectivity is essential for system operation.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability involves implementing the correct buffer sizing as specified in the patch, increasing the para array size from 2 to 6 bytes to accommodate the expected 5-byte data read operation. This fix aligns with established security practices for buffer management and follows the principle of least privilege by ensuring that memory operations remain within allocated boundaries. The solution directly addresses the underlying CWE-129 issue related to insufficient size checks and the CWE-787 vulnerability category covering out-of-bounds writes and reads. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged in initial access or privilege escalation phases, particularly in scenarios where wireless network interfaces are exposed to untrusted networks or where attackers can influence driver behavior through malicious wireless communications. System administrators should prioritize applying the kernel patch that implements this buffer size correction to prevent exploitation of this memory safety issue.