CVE-2025-38661 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 08/22/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
platform/x86: alienware-wmi-wmax: Fix `dmi_system_id` array
Add missing empty member to `awcc_dmi_table`.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/29/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-38661 resides within the Linux kernel's platform/x86 subsystem, specifically affecting the alienware-wmi-wmax driver implementation. This issue impacts systems running Linux kernels that incorporate the WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) support for Alienware hardware platforms. The flaw manifests in the dmi_system_id array structure used for hardware identification and driver matching within the kernel's device management framework.
The technical root cause involves an incomplete data structure definition within the awcc_dmi_table array implementation. The alienware-wmi-wmax driver relies on DMI (Desktop Management Interface) system identification tables to properly match and configure hardware components for Alienware laptops and desktops. When the DMI system ID array lacks a properly defined empty member, it creates potential memory layout issues that could lead to incorrect hardware detection or driver initialization failures. This type of array structure defect commonly falls under CWE-121, which addresses buffer overflow conditions in stack-based buffers, though the specific manifestation here relates to data structure alignment and initialization rather than direct buffer overflows.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends to Alienware system users who may experience intermittent hardware detection failures or incorrect driver behavior when the kernel attempts to identify and configure specific hardware components. Systems utilizing the affected kernel versions might encounter issues with power management features, hardware monitoring capabilities, or other WMI-based functionalities that depend on proper DMI system identification. The vulnerability does not directly expose system security boundaries but rather affects system stability and hardware compatibility, potentially leading to degraded user experience or hardware malfunction.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-38661 focus primarily on kernel updates that implement the proper array structure fix. System administrators should apply the latest kernel patches that include the corrected `awcc_dmi_table` with the missing empty member properly defined. This patch resolves the data structure alignment issue by ensuring that the DMI system ID array maintains proper memory boundaries and initialization sequences. The fix aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 by addressing a privilege escalation vector through kernel-level memory management, though in this case the impact is more about system stability than direct security compromise. Organizations should prioritize patching systems running affected kernel versions, particularly those managing Alienware hardware platforms where WMI functionality is critical for proper system operation and user experience.