Memory disclosure and kernel crash via ath12k use-after-free
Published Jul 10, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026
Use-after-free in Linux kernels from 6.3 with ath12k allows attackers to expose memory, corrupt data, or crash the kernel via Wi-Fi frames. The ath12k_dp_rx_msdu_coalesce() function frees an skb and then reads rxcb->is_continuation from the freed control buffer, desynchronizing receive-buffer parsing. Reachability requires an ath12k radio in AP or mesh mode on an open network, or a station connected to an attacker-controlled access point.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in Linux kernels from 6.3 with ath12k allows attackers to expose memory, corrupt data, or crash the kernel via Wi-Fi frames. The ath12k_dp_rx_msdu_coalesce() function frees an skb and then reads rxcb->is_continuation from the freed control buffer, desynchronizing receive-buffer parsing. Reachability requires an ath12k radio in AP or mesh mode on an open network, or a station connected to an attacker-controlled access point.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-38292
- Published
- Jul 10, 2025
- Updated
- Aug 5, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499
- Attack vector
- adjacent
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 10, 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=6.3
- Affected versionversion=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <371b340affa52f280f6eadfd25fbd43f09f0d5c0
- Affected versionversion=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <5f09d16cd57764c95c8548fe5b70672c9ac01127
- Affected versionversion=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <9f17747fbda6fca934854463873c4abf8061491d
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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