Linux Kernel up to 6.12.18/6.13.6 iwl-trans.c state issue

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.18/6.13.6. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file drivers/net/wireless/inel/iwlwifi/iwl-trans.c. This manipulation causes state issue. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2025-21930. No exploit exists. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.18/6.13.6 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is some unknown functionality of the file drivers/net/wireless/inel/iwlwifi/iwl-trans.c. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a state issue vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-371. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: iwlwifi: mvm: don't try to talk to a dead firmware This fixes: bad state = 0 WARNING: CPU: 10 PID: 702 at drivers/net/wireless/inel/iwlwifi/iwl-trans.c:178 iwl_trans_send_cmd+0xba/0xe0 [iwlwifi] Call Trace: ? __warn+0xca/0x1c0 ? iwl_trans_send_cmd+0xba/0xe0 [iwlwifi 64fa9ad799a0e0d2ba53d4af93a53ad9a531f8d4] iwl_fw_dbg_clear_monitor_buf+0xd7/0x110 [iwlwifi 64fa9ad799a0e0d2ba53d4af93a53ad9a531f8d4] _iwl_dbgfs_fw_dbg_clear_write+0xe2/0x120 [iwlmvm 0e8adb18cea92d2c341766bcc10b18699290068a] Ask whether the firmware is alive before sending a command.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-21930 since 12/29/2024. The exploitation appears to be difficult. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 02/01/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 241070 (Ubuntu 24.04 LTS : Linux kernel (OEM) vulnerabilities (USN-7606-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.12.19 or 6.13.7 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 437e93ecd40754f9e938d524daf52a10c589e2d4/e7c31a3f4f27d61b9ccd894a7bf4690f137da0ec/d73d2c6e3313f0ba60711ab4f4b9044eddca9ca5 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (241070) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-0683). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Google Container-Optimized OS
• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Dell Avamar
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• SolarWinds Security Event Manager
• Dell NetWorker
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway
• IBM Security Verify Access

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.12.0
• 6.12.1
• 6.12.2
• 6.12.3
• 6.12.4
• 6.12.5
• 6.12.6
• 6.12.7
• 6.12.8
• 6.12.9
• 6.12.10
• 6.12.11
• 6.12.12
• 6.12.13
• 6.12.14
• 6.12.15
• 6.12.16
• 6.12.17
• 6.12.18
• 6.13.0
• 6.13.1
• 6.13.2
• 6.13.3
• 6.13.4
• 6.13.5
• 6.13.6

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Exploitinginfo

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Entryinfo

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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