Linux Kernel up to 6.16.0 rtl8187_stop null pointer dereference

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5.0	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.147/6.6.101/6.12.41/6.15.9/6.16.0 and classified as critical. This issue affects the function rtl8187_stop. Executing a manipulation can lead to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2025-38604. No exploit exists. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.147/6.6.101/6.12.41/6.15.9/6.16.0. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects the function rtl8187_stop. 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: rtl818x: Kill URBs before clearing tx status queue In rtl8187_stop() move the call of usb_kill_anchored_urbs() before clearing b_tx_status.queue. This change prevents callbacks from using already freed skb due to anchor was not killed before freeing such skb. BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000080 #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode #PF: error_code(0x0000) - not-present page PGD 0 P4D 0 Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI CPU: 7 UID: 0 PID: 0 Comm: swapper/7 Not tainted 6.15.0 #8 PREEMPT(voluntary) Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 0.0.0 02/06/2015 RIP: 0010:ieee80211_tx_status_irqsafe+0x21/0xc0 [mac80211] Call Trace: <IRQ> rtl8187_tx_cb+0x116/0x150 [rtl8187] __usb_hcd_giveback_urb+0x9d/0x120 usb_giveback_urb_bh+0xbb/0x140 process_one_work+0x19b/0x3c0 bh_worker+0x1a7/0x210 tasklet_action+0x10/0x30 handle_softirqs+0xf0/0x340 __irq_exit_rcu+0xcd/0xf0 common_interrupt+0x85/0xa0 </IRQ> Tested on RTL8187BvE device. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with SVACE.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-38604 since 04/16/2025. The exploitation appears to be difficult. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 270144 (Oracle Linux 7 / 8 : Unbreakable Enterprise kernel (ELSA-2025-20663)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.148, 6.6.102, 6.12.42, 6.15.10, 6.16.1 or 6.17-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 8c767727f331fb9455b0f81daad832b5925688cb/14ca6952691fa8cc91e7644512e6ff24a595283f/7858a95566f4ebf59524666683d2dcdba3fca968/c51a45ad9070a6d296174fcbe5c466352836c12b/81cfe34d0630de4e23ae804dcc08fb6f861dc37d/16d8fd74dbfca0ea58645cd2fca13be10cae3cdd 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 (270144), EUVD (EUVD-2025-26092) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1869). 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
• SUSE openSUSE
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Dell Avamar
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• Dell NetWorker
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway
• IBM QRadar SIEM

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.0
• 6.1
• 6.1.147
• 6.2
• 6.3
• 6.4
• 6.5
• 6.6
• 6.6.101
• 6.7
• 6.8
• 6.9
• 6.10
• 6.11
• 6.12
• 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
• 6.12.39
• 6.12.40
• 6.12.41
• 6.13
• 6.14
• 6.15
• 6.15.0
• 6.15.1
• 6.15.2
• 6.15.3
• 6.15.4
• 6.15.5
• 6.15.6
• 6.15.7
• 6.15.8
• 6.15.9
• 6.16.0

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

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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💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
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Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
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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: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Nessus ID: 270144
Nessus Name: Oracle Linux 7 / 8 : Unbreakable Enterprise kernel (ELSA-2025-20663)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.1.148/6.6.102/6.12.42/6.15.10/6.16.1/6.17-rc1
Patch: 8c767727f331fb9455b0f81daad832b5925688cb/14ca6952691fa8cc91e7644512e6ff24a595283f/7858a95566f4ebf59524666683d2dcdba3fca968/c51a45ad9070a6d296174fcbe5c466352836c12b/81cfe34d0630de4e23ae804dcc08fb6f861dc37d/16d8fd74dbfca0ea58645cd2fca13be10cae3cdd

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
08/19/2025 +125 days Advisory disclosed
08/19/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
01/16/2026 +150 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38604 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38604
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-320632
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1869 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 08/19/2025 19:34
Updated: 01/16/2026 08:34
Changes: 08/19/2025 19:34 (58), 09/25/2025 06:20 (7), 10/14/2025 04:16 (2), 10/27/2025 02:02 (1), 11/01/2025 14:12 (1), 01/08/2026 01:02 (13), 01/08/2026 16:30 (1), 01/16/2026 08:34 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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