Kernel warning via stale monitor-mode peer identifier
Published Nov 12, 2025 · Updated May 23, 2026
Improper peer lookup in affected Linux kernels allows attackers to trigger a mac80211 warning through ath12k monitor-mode traffic. In ath12k_dp_mon_rx_deliver_msdu(), monitor-mode frames bypass the descriptor path that sets rxcb->peer_id, so a NULL peer leaves link_id and link_valid unset in RX status. The trigger requires an associated station and ath12k monitor mode; the public record documents a WARN_ON but no crash or service interruption.
Summary
What happened
Improper peer lookup in affected Linux kernels allows attackers to trigger a mac80211 warning through ath12k monitor-mode traffic. In ath12k_dp_mon_rx_deliver_msdu(), monitor-mode frames bypass the descriptor path that sets rxcb->peer_id, so a NULL peer leaves link_id and link_valid unset in RX status. The trigger requires an associated station and ath12k monitor mode; the public record documents a WARN_ON but no crash or service interruption.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-40131
- Published
- Nov 12, 2025
- Updated
- May 23, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- adjacent
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Nov 12, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 23, 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=124bd8cea02395a1a140f1dcc5e57c65cdd428af
- Affected versionversion=6.15.3 <6.16
- Affected versionversion=6.16
- Affected versionversion=bd00cc7e8a4c1048d14c9a9e9790c582119785fb <7ca61ed8b3f3fc9a7decd68039cb1d7d1238c566
- Affected versionversion=bd00cc7e8a4c1048d14c9a9e9790c582119785fb <da64eb2da76ce5626238a951fdf3e81810454427
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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