Linux Kernel up to 6.15.2 wifi in_hw_restart null pointer dereference

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.5$0-$5k1.81

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Linux Kernel up to 6.15.2. Impacted is the function in_hw_restart of the component wifi. Executing a manipulation can lead to null pointer dereference. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-38121. There is no exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.15.2. This vulnerability affects the function in_hw_restart of the component wifi. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. As an impact it is known to affect availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: iwlwifi: mld: avoid panic on init failure In case of an error during init, in_hw_restart will be set, but it will never get cleared. Instead, we will retry to init again, and then we will act like we are in a restart when we are actually not. This causes (among others) to a NULL pointer dereference when canceling rx_omi::finished_work, that was not even initialized, because we thought that we are in hw_restart. Set in_hw_restart to true only if the fw is running, then we know that FW was loaded successfully and we are not going to the retry loop.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-38121 since 04/16/2025. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 277738 (CentOS 9 : kernel-5.14.0-648.el9), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.15.3 or 6.16-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch a26ec8e16958b6dd37dac9daf5fb6978fe0cb0b8/960c7e6d388034d219dafffa6da0a5c2ccd5ff30 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 (277738), EUVD (EUVD-2025-19822) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1452). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

  • Google Container-Optimized OS
  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • IBM QRadar SIEM
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Dell Avamar
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • Dell NetWorker
  • Dell Secure Connect Gateway

Productinfo

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Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.5

VulDB Base Score: 5.7
VulDB Temp Score: 5.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Null pointer dereference
CWE: CWE-476 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 277738
Nessus Name: CentOS 9 : kernel-5.14.0-648.el9

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.15.3/6.16-rc1
Patch: a26ec8e16958b6dd37dac9daf5fb6978fe0cb0b8/960c7e6d388034d219dafffa6da0a5c2ccd5ff30

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
07/03/2025 +78 days Advisory disclosed
07/03/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
04/18/2026 +288 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38121 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38121
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-314704
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1452 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 07/03/2025 11:42
Updated: 04/18/2026 00:34
Changes: 07/03/2025 11:42 (59), 07/03/2025 14:51 (1), 08/23/2025 18:02 (7), 09/21/2025 18:46 (1), 11/09/2025 14:00 (1), 11/21/2025 03:12 (11), 12/06/2025 06:33 (1), 12/09/2025 07:25 (2), 04/18/2026 00:34 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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