Kernel memory corruption via scan-cancellation race
Published Feb 27, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026
Use-after-free in Linux 5.18 through 6.12.12 and 6.13 through 6.13.1 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory via Wi-Fi scans. The rtw89 cancellation path checks rtwdev->scanning outside its mutex, allowing scan completion to clear the flag and free local->hw_scan_req before cancellation dereferences it. An ordinary logged-in user able to request scans and connections can trigger kernel memory disclosure or corruption, a wireless-device failure, or a system hang.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in Linux 5.18 through 6.12.12 and 6.13 through 6.13.1 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory via Wi-Fi scans. The rtw89 cancellation path checks rtwdev->scanning outside its mutex, allowing scan completion to clear the flag and free local->hw_scan_req before cancellation dereferences it. An ordinary logged-in user able to request scans and connections can trigger kernel memory disclosure or corruption, a wireless-device failure, or a system hang.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-21729
- Published
- Feb 27, 2025
- Updated
- Aug 5, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-416, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 27, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 5, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=5.18
- Affected versionversion=895907779752606f6a4795abfc008509f8e38314 <2403cb3c235d5e339b580cc3a825493769fadca8
- Affected versionversion=895907779752606f6a4795abfc008509f8e38314 <5afcd6fcd1e1c1fd6bcc9a360c121d10eddade67
- Affected versionversion=895907779752606f6a4795abfc008509f8e38314 <ba4bb0402c60e945c4c396c51f0acac3c3e3ea5c
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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