CVE-2025-68729

Kernel crash via unfreed RX error buffers

Published Dec 24, 2025 · Updated Dec 24, 2025

Resource leak in Linux kernel 6.3 through 6.17.12 and 6.18.0 through 6.18.1 allows attackers to crash systems via Wi-Fi packets. ath12k_hal_desc_reo_parse_err() rejects MSDU buffers where it expects link descriptors, but the RX error path returns without freeing the associated skb. A system must use the ath12k driver with compatible Qualcomm hardware; repeated receipt leaks kernel memory until resource exhaustion crashes the host.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Resource leak in Linux kernel 6.3 through 6.17.12 and 6.18.0 through 6.18.1 allows attackers to crash systems via Wi-Fi packets. ath12k_hal_desc_reo_parse_err() rejects MSDU buffers where it expects link descriptors, but the RX error path returns without freeing the associated skb. A system must use the ath12k driver with compatible Qualcomm hardware; repeated receipt leaks kernel memory until resource exhaustion crashes the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-68729
Published
Dec 24, 2025
Updated
Dec 24, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 24, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 24, 2025Record 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=6.3
  2. Affected versionversion=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <36f9edbb9d0fc36c865c74f3c1ad8e1261ad3981
  3. Affected versionversion=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <5ff5a9d71cdc49c3400f30583a784ad0a17d01ec
  4. Affected versionversion=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <ab0554f51e5f2b9506e8a09e8accd02f00056729

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.3; version=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <36f9edbb9d0fc36c865c74f3c1ad8e1261ad3981; version=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <5ff5a9d71cdc49c3400f30583a784ad0a17d01ec; version=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <ab0554f51e5f2b9506e8a09e8accd02f00056729

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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

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Your stack

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