Local kernel compromise via lost workqueue error
Published Aug 22, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026
Use-after-free in the iwlwifi DVM driver in affected Linux kernels allows local users to compromise the kernel during driver probe. iwl_op_mode_dvm_start returns ERR_PTR(0), or NULL, when iwl_setup_deferred_work fails, so cleanup leaves a debugfs reference to freed iwl_priv memory. A local user must create memory pressure while iwldvm probes; successful reuse can expose or alter kernel memory or cause a panic.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in the iwlwifi DVM driver in affected Linux kernels allows local users to compromise the kernel during driver probe. iwl_op_mode_dvm_start returns ERR_PTR(0), or NULL, when iwl_setup_deferred_work fails, so cleanup leaves a debugfs reference to freed iwl_priv memory. A local user must create memory pressure while iwldvm probes; successful reuse can expose or alter kernel memory or cause a panic.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-38656
- Published
- Aug 22, 2025
- Updated
- Aug 5, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 22, 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=2e9f85ee3b46453a2f250a57d3a9f10c70c71202
- Affected versionversion=5.10.241 <5.11
- Affected versionversion=5.15.190 <5.16
- Affected versionversion=5.4.297 <5.5
- Affected versionversion=6.1.148 <6.2
- Affected versionversion=6.12.42 <6.13
- Affected versionversion=6.6.102 <6.7
- Affected versionversion=6663c52608d8d8727bf1911e6d9218069ba1c85e
- Affected versionversion=70a1b527eaea9430b1bd87de59f3b9f6bd225701 <1d068272c21d886d06526454b68368100ba0a720
- Affected versionversion=7dd6350307af6521b6240b295c93b7eec4daebe6
- Affected versionversion=90a0d9f339960448a3acc1437a46730f975efd6a <cf80c02a9fdb6c5bc8508beb6a0f6a1294fc32f6
- Affected versionversion=b398120fbe0acfef60b16f6a0f69902d385d7728
- Affected versionversion=c0e43c3f6c0a79381b468574c241065998412b7c <991e2066f6009d3cb898413058c62dbcc92bd6d2
- Affected versionversion=c80832d445653baba5ac80cd2c2637c437ac881b
- Affected versionversion=ca980f1911a7144d451d1c31298ab8507c6bd88f
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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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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