Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath12k: fix node...
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
wifi: ath12k: fix node corruption in ar->arvifs list
In current WLAN recovery code flow, ath12k_core_halt() only reinitializes
the "arvifs" list head. This will cause the list node immediately following
the list head to become an invalid list node. Because the prev of that node
still points to the list head "arvifs", but the next of the list head
"arvifs" no longer points to that list node.
When a WLAN recovery occurs during the execution of a vif removal, and it
happens before the spin_lock_bh(&ar->data_lock) in
ath12k_mac_vdev_delete(), list_del() will detect the previously mentioned
situation, thereby triggering a kernel panic.
The fix is to remove and reinitialize all vif list nodes from the list head
"arvifs" during WLAN halt. The reinitialization is to make the list nodes
valid, ensuring that the list_del() in ath12k_mac_vdev_delete() can execute
normally.
Call trace:
__list_del_entry_valid_or_report+0xd4/0x100 (P)
ath12k_mac_remove_link_interface.isra.0+0xf8/0x2e4 [ath12k]
ath12k_scan_vdev_clean_work+0x40/0x164 [ath12k]
cfg80211_wiphy_work+0xfc/0x100
process_one_work+0x164/0x2d0
worker_thread+0x254/0x380
kthread+0xfc/0x100
ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20
The change is mostly copied from the ath11k patch:
https://lore.kernel.org/all/[email protected]/
Tested-on: QCN9274 hw2.0 PCI WLAN.WBE.1.4.1-00199-QCAHKSWPL_SILICONZ-1
Impact
Multiple concurrent operations access a shared resource without proper synchronization, producing unpredictable results depending on timing. Typical impact: TOCTOU exploits, data corruption, or privilege escalation.
CVE-2025-38290 has a CVSS score of 5.5 (Medium). The vector is requires local access, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. No fixed version is listed yet, so configuration controls and monitoring matter more in the interim.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2025-38290? CVE-2025-38290 is a medium-severity race condition vulnerability. No fixed version is listed yet. Multiple concurrent operations access a shared resource without proper synchronization, producing unpredictable results depending on timing.
- How severe is CVE-2025-38290? CVE-2025-38290 has a CVSS score of 5.5 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2025-38290? No fixed version is listed for CVE-2025-38290 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
- Is CVE-2025-38290 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2025-38290 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2025-38290 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.