Linux Kernel up to 6.15.6 wifi ieee80211_chan_width_to_rx_bw privilege escalation

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CTI Interest Score
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5.4$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.15.6. Affected is the function ieee80211_chan_width_to_rx_bw of the component wifi. The manipulation leads to an unknown weakness. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2025-38509. There is no available exploit. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.15.6. It has been rated as problematic. This issue affects the function ieee80211_chan_width_to_rx_bw of the component wifi. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mac80211: reject VHT opmode for unsupported channel widths VHT operating mode notifications are not defined for channel widths below 20 MHz. In particular, 5 MHz and 10 MHz are not valid under the VHT specification and must be rejected. Without this check, malformed notifications using these widths may reach ieee80211_chan_width_to_rx_bw(), leading to a WARN_ON due to invalid input. This issue was reported by syzbot. Reject these unsupported widths early in sta_link_apply_parameters() when opmode_notif is used. The accepted set includes 20, 40, 80, 160, and 80+80 MHz, which are valid for VHT. While 320 MHz is not defined for VHT, it is allowed to avoid rejecting HE or EHT clients that may still send a VHT opmode notification.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-38509 since 04/16/2025. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 260069 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38509), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.15.7 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 18eca59a04500b68a90e0c5c873f97c9d1ea2bfa/58fcb1b4287ce38850402bb2bb16d09bf77b91d9 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 (260069), EUVD (EUVD-2025-25089) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1858). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Affected

  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Dell Avamar
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • Dell NetWorker
  • Dell Secure Connect Gateway
  • IBM QRadar SIEM
  • IBM Security Verify Access

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.4

VulDB Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Temp Score: 5.3
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Privilege escalation
CWE: Unknown
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: 260069
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38509

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.15.7
Patch: 18eca59a04500b68a90e0c5c873f97c9d1ea2bfa/58fcb1b4287ce38850402bb2bb16d09bf77b91d9

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
08/16/2025 +122 days Advisory disclosed
08/16/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
01/30/2026 +167 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38509 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38509
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-320363
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1858 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 08/16/2025 13:30
Updated: 01/30/2026 17:10
Changes: 08/16/2025 13:30 (57), 08/16/2025 16:17 (1), 08/19/2025 09:25 (1), 08/31/2025 23:01 (2), 09/28/2025 07:47 (7), 10/02/2025 22:37 (1), 10/12/2025 16:40 (1), 11/01/2025 18:51 (1), 11/20/2025 04:45 (10), 01/30/2026 17:10 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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