Linux Kernel up to 6.17.7 P2P Interface init_completion null pointer dereference

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4.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.17.7. The affected element is the function init_completion of the component P2P Interface. Performing a manipulation results in null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-40321. No exploit is available. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.17.7. It has been classified as critical. This affects the function init_completion of the component P2P Interface. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as 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. This is going to have an impact on availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: brcmfmac: fix crash while sending Action Frames in standalone AP Mode Currently, whenever there is a need to transmit an Action frame, the brcmfmac driver always uses the P2P vif to send the "actframe" IOVAR to firmware. The P2P interfaces were available when wpa_supplicant is managing the wlan interface. However, the P2P interfaces are not created/initialized when only hostapd is managing the wlan interface. And if hostapd receives an ANQP Query REQ Action frame even from an un-associated STA, the brcmfmac driver tries to use an uninitialized P2P vif pointer for sending the IOVAR to firmware. This NULL pointer dereferencing triggers a driver crash. [ 1417.074538] Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 0000000000000000 [...] [ 1417.075188] Hardware name: Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Rev 1.5 (DT) [...] [ 1417.075653] Call trace: [ 1417.075662] brcmf_p2p_send_action_frame+0x23c/0xc58 [brcmfmac] [ 1417.075738] brcmf_cfg80211_mgmt_tx+0x304/0x5c0 [brcmfmac] [ 1417.075810] cfg80211_mlme_mgmt_tx+0x1b0/0x428 [cfg80211] [ 1417.076067] nl80211_tx_mgmt+0x238/0x388 [cfg80211] [ 1417.076281] genl_family_rcv_msg_doit+0xe0/0x158 [ 1417.076302] genl_rcv_msg+0x220/0x2a0 [ 1417.076317] netlink_rcv_skb+0x68/0x140 [ 1417.076330] genl_rcv+0x40/0x60 [ 1417.076343] netlink_unicast+0x330/0x3b8 [ 1417.076357] netlink_sendmsg+0x19c/0x3f8 [ 1417.076370] __sock_sendmsg+0x64/0xc0 [ 1417.076391] ____sys_sendmsg+0x268/0x2a0 [ 1417.076408] ___sys_sendmsg+0xb8/0x118 [ 1417.076427] __sys_sendmsg+0x90/0xf8 [ 1417.076445] __arm64_sys_sendmsg+0x2c/0x40 [ 1417.076465] invoke_syscall+0x50/0x120 [ 1417.076486] el0_svc_common.constprop.0+0x48/0xf0 [ 1417.076506] do_el0_svc+0x24/0x38 [ 1417.076525] el0_svc+0x30/0x100 [ 1417.076548] el0t_64_sync_handler+0x100/0x130 [ 1417.076569] el0t_64_sync+0x190/0x198 [ 1417.076589] Code: f9401e80 aa1603e2 f9403be1 5280e483 (f9400000) Fix this, by always using the vif corresponding to the wdev on which the Action frame Transmission request was initiated by the userspace. This way, even if P2P vif is not available, the IOVAR is sent to firmware on AP vif and the ANQP Query RESP Action frame is transmitted without crashing the driver. Move init_completion() for "send_af_done" from brcmf_p2p_create_p2pdev() to brcmf_p2p_attach(). Because the former function would not get executed when only hostapd is managing wlan interface, and it is not safe to do reinit_completion() later in brcmf_p2p_tx_action_frame(), without any prior init_completion(). And in the brcmf_p2p_tx_action_frame() function, the condition check for P2P Presence response frame is not needed, since the wpa_supplicant is properly sending the P2P Presense Response frame on the P2P-GO vif instead of the P2P-Device vif. [Cc stable]

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-40321 since 04/16/2025. The exploitability is told to be difficult. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 277722 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-40321), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.4.302, 5.10.247, 5.15.197, 6.1.159, 6.6.117, 6.12.58 or 6.17.8 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch c863b9c7b4e9af0b7931cb791ec91971a50f1a25/e1fc9afcce9139791260f962541282d47fbb508d/55f60a72a178909ece4e32987e4c642ba57e1cf4/c2b0f8d3e7358c33d90f0e62765d474f25f26a45/64e3175d1c8a3bea02032e7c9d1befd5f43786fa/a6eed58249e7d60f856900e682992300f770f64b/dbc7357b6aae686d9404e1dd7e2e6cf92c3a1b5a/3776c685ebe5f43e9060af06872661de55e80b9a 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 (277722) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2756). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Affected

  • Google Container-Optimized OS
  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • NetApp FAS
  • NetApp AFF
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • Microsoft Azure Linux

Productinfo

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Version

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Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.6

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

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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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: No
Local: No
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 277722
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-40321

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.4.302/5.10.247/5.15.197/6.1.159/6.6.117/6.12.58/6.17.8
Patch: c863b9c7b4e9af0b7931cb791ec91971a50f1a25/e1fc9afcce9139791260f962541282d47fbb508d/55f60a72a178909ece4e32987e4c642ba57e1cf4/c2b0f8d3e7358c33d90f0e62765d474f25f26a45/64e3175d1c8a3bea02032e7c9d1befd5f43786fa/a6eed58249e7d60f856900e682992300f770f64b/dbc7357b6aae686d9404e1dd7e2e6cf92c3a1b5a/3776c685ebe5f43e9060af06872661de55e80b9a

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
12/08/2025 +236 days Advisory disclosed
12/08/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
02/23/2026 +77 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-40321 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-40321
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-334725
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2756 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service

Entryinfo

Created: 12/08/2025 06:21
Updated: 02/23/2026 08:31
Changes: 12/08/2025 06:21 (59), 12/09/2025 15:48 (2), 01/04/2026 15:49 (7), 01/23/2026 09:01 (1), 02/23/2026 08:31 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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