Bluetooth disruption via unchecked empty skb read
Published Dec 8, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026
Uninitialized memory use in Linux 6.1 and later before applicable stable fixes allows adjacent attackers to disrupt Bluetooth processing. In hci_cmd_complete_evt(), an unknown command opcode can leave the skb empty after hci_event_func() pulls parameters, yet skb->data[0] is read as status. A hostile Bluetooth adapter or compromised controller is required; effects are bounded to one stale byte, command-state corruption, or a Bluetooth stack wedge or hardened-kernel abort.
Summary
What happened
Uninitialized memory use in Linux 6.1 and later before applicable stable fixes allows adjacent attackers to disrupt Bluetooth processing. In hci_cmd_complete_evt(), an unknown command opcode can leave the skb empty after hci_event_func() pulls parameters, yet skb->data[0] is read as status. A hostile Bluetooth adapter or compromised controller is required; effects are bounded to one stale byte, command-state corruption, or a Bluetooth stack wedge or hardened-kernel abort.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-40301
- Published
- Dec 8, 2025
- Updated
- Aug 5, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499
- Attack vector
- adjacent
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 8, 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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Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=6.1
- Affected versionversion=afcb3369f46ed5dc883a7b92f2dd1e264d79d388 <1a0ddaaf97405dbd11d4cb5a961a3f82400e8a50
- Affected versionversion=afcb3369f46ed5dc883a7b92f2dd1e264d79d388 <5c5f1f64681cc889d9b13e4a61285e9e029d6ab5
- Affected versionversion=afcb3369f46ed5dc883a7b92f2dd1e264d79d388 <779f83a91d4f1bf5ddfeaf528420cbb6dbf03fa8
- Affected versionversion=afcb3369f46ed5dc883a7b92f2dd1e264d79d388 <cf2c2acec1cf456c3d11c11a7589e886a0f963a9
- Affected versionversion=afcb3369f46ed5dc883a7b92f2dd1e264d79d388 <fea895de78d3bb2f0c09db9f10b18f8121b15759
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What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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