Linux Kernel up to 6.12.38/6.15.6/6.16-rc5 wifi mt7925_sta_set_decap_offload null pointer dereference

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Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.38/6.15.6/6.16-rc5. This impacts the function mt7925_sta_set_decap_offload of the component wifi. Such manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2025-38450. There is no exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.38/6.15.6/6.16-rc5. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is the function mt7925_sta_set_decap_offload of the component wifi. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to 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. Impacted is availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mt76: mt7925: prevent NULL pointer dereference in mt7925_sta_set_decap_offload() Add a NULL check for msta->vif before accessing its members to prevent a kernel panic in AP mode deployment. This also fix the issue reported in [1]. The crash occurs when this function is triggered before the station is fully initialized. The call trace shows a page fault at mt7925_sta_set_decap_offload() due to accessing resources when msta->vif is NULL. Fix this by adding an early return if msta->vif is NULL and also check wcid.sta is ready. This ensures we only proceed with decap offload configuration when the station's state is properly initialized. [14739.655703] Unable to handle kernel paging request at virtual address ffffffffffffffa0 [14739.811820] CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 895854 Comm: hostapd Tainted: G [14739.821394] Tainted: [C]=CRAP, [O]=OOT_MODULE [14739.825746] Hardware name: Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Rev 1.1 (DT) [14739.831577] pstate: 60000005 (nZCv daif -PAN -UAO -TCO -DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) [14739.838538] pc : mt7925_sta_set_decap_offload+0xc0/0x1b8 [mt7925_common] [14739.845271] lr : mt7925_sta_set_decap_offload+0x58/0x1b8 [mt7925_common] [14739.851985] sp : ffffffc085efb500 [14739.855295] x29: ffffffc085efb500 x28: 0000000000000000 x27: ffffff807803a158 [14739.862436] x26: ffffff8041ececb8 x25: 0000000000000001 x24: 0000000000000001 [14739.869577] x23: 0000000000000001 x22: 0000000000000008 x21: ffffff8041ecea88 [14739.876715] x20: ffffff8041c19ca0 x19: ffffff8078031fe0 x18: 0000000000000000 [14739.883853] x17: 0000000000000000 x16: ffffffe2aeac1110 x15: 000000559da48080 [14739.890991] x14: 0000000000000001 x13: 0000000000000000 x12: 0000000000000000 [14739.898130] x11: 0a10020001008e88 x10: 0000000000001a50 x9 : ffffffe26457bfa0 [14739.905269] x8 : ffffff8042013bb0 x7 : ffffff807fb6cbf8 x6 : dead000000000100 [14739.912407] x5 : dead000000000122 x4 : ffffff80780326c8 x3 : 0000000000000000 [14739.919546] x2 : 0000000000000000 x1 : 0000000000000000 x0 : ffffff8041ececb8 [14739.926686] Call trace: [14739.929130] mt7925_sta_set_decap_offload+0xc0/0x1b8 [mt7925_common] [14739.935505] ieee80211_check_fast_rx+0x19c/0x510 [mac80211] [14739.941344] _sta_info_move_state+0xe4/0x510 [mac80211] [14739.946860] sta_info_move_state+0x1c/0x30 [mac80211] [14739.952116] sta_apply_auth_flags.constprop.0+0x90/0x1b0 [mac80211] [14739.958708] sta_apply_parameters+0x234/0x5e0 [mac80211] [14739.964332] ieee80211_add_station+0xdc/0x190 [mac80211] [14739.969950] nl80211_new_station+0x46c/0x670 [cfg80211] [14739.975516] genl_family_rcv_msg_doit+0xdc/0x150 [14739.980158] genl_rcv_msg+0x218/0x298 [14739.983830] netlink_rcv_skb+0x64/0x138 [14739.987670] genl_rcv+0x40/0x60 [14739.990816] netlink_unicast+0x314/0x380 [14739.994742] netlink_sendmsg+0x198/0x3f0 [14739.998664] __sock_sendmsg+0x64/0xc0 [14740.002324] ____sys_sendmsg+0x260/0x298 [14740.006242] ___sys_sendmsg+0xb4/0x110

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2025-38450 since 04/16/2025. The exploitation is known to be difficult. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 245542 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38450), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.12.39, 6.15.7 or 6.16-rc6 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 9b50874f297fcc62adc7396f35209878e51010b0/91c3dec2453b3742e8f666957b99945edc30577f/35ad47c0b3da04b00b19a8b9ed5632e2f2520472 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 (245542) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1653). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

• 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

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
• 6.12.19
• 6.12.20
• 6.12.21
• 6.12.22
• 6.12.23
• 6.12.24
• 6.12.25
• 6.12.26
• 6.12.27
• 6.12.28
• 6.12.29
• 6.12.30
• 6.12.31
• 6.12.32
• 6.12.33
• 6.12.34
• 6.12.35
• 6.12.36
• 6.12.37
• 6.12.38
• 6.15.0
• 6.15.1
• 6.15.2
• 6.15.3
• 6.15.4
• 6.15.5
• 6.15.6
• 6.16-rc1
• 6.16-rc2
• 6.16-rc3
• 6.16-rc4
• 6.16-rc5

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.1
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.0

VulDB Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Temp Score: 4.6
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
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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: 245542
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38450

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.12.39/6.15.7/6.16-rc6
Patch: 9b50874f297fcc62adc7396f35209878e51010b0/91c3dec2453b3742e8f666957b99945edc30577f/35ad47c0b3da04b00b19a8b9ed5632e2f2520472

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
07/25/2025 +100 days Advisory disclosed
07/25/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
01/03/2026 +162 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38450 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38450
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-317744
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1653 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 07/25/2025 19:32
Updated: 01/03/2026 23:51
Changes: 07/25/2025 19:32 (59), 07/30/2025 02:00 (1), 08/08/2025 18:08 (2), 08/22/2025 19:54 (7), 09/15/2025 05:23 (1), 09/29/2025 02:13 (1), 11/02/2025 13:58 (1), 11/17/2025 06:19 (1), 11/20/2025 02:24 (11), 01/03/2026 23:51 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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