CVE-2025-38657

Kernel memory corruption via wrapped link identifier

Published Aug 22, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Out-of-bounds access in Linux kernel 6.16 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory or crash the system through an rtw89 debugfs write. The rtw89_core_mlsr_switch function shifts a bit by an unchecked link_id and then indexes rtwvif->links with it, so oversized identifiers wrap the shift and overrun the link array. Reachability requires mounted debugfs and an rtw89 Wi-Fi 7 interface in MLSR mode; the current CNA analysis reports that the mlo_mode file is world-writable.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.15%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds access in Linux kernel 6.16 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory or crash the system through an rtw89 debugfs write. The rtw89_core_mlsr_switch function shifts a bit by an unchecked link_id and then indexes rtwvif->links with it, so oversized identifiers wrap the shift and overrun the link array. Reachability requires mounted debugfs and an rtw89 Wi-Fi 7 interface in MLSR mode; the current CNA analysis reports that the mlo_mode file is world-writable.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38657
Published
Aug 22, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 22, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=6.16
  2. Affected versionversion=9dd85e739ce0765f022014c3e0713e1007d7ef60 <417cfa9cc44fbe6bceab786f9a4ee5a210f1288e
  3. Affected versionversion=9dd85e739ce0765f022014c3e0713e1007d7ef60 <53cf488927a0f79968f9c03c4d1e00d2a79731c3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.16; version=9dd85e739ce0765f022014c3e0713e1007d7ef60 <417cfa9cc44fbe6bceab786f9a4ee5a210f1288e; version=9dd85e739ce0765f022014c3e0713e1007d7ef60 <53cf488927a0f79968f9c03c4d1e00d2a79731c3

Published CVSS scores

7.3LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

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