CVE-2025-38293: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath11k: fix node corruption in ar->arvifs list In current WLAN recovery co...

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath11k: fix node corruption in ar->arvifs list In current WLAN recovery code flow, ath11k_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 ath11k_mac_op_remove_interface(), 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 ath11k_mac_op_remove_interface() can execute normally. Call trace: __list_del_entry_valid_or_report+0xb8/0xd0 ath11k_mac_op_remove_interface+0xb0/0x27c [ath11k] drv_remove_interface+0x48/0x194 [mac80211] ieee80211_do_stop+0x6e0/0x844 [mac80211] ieee80211_stop+0x44/0x17c [mac80211] __dev_close_many+0xac/0x150 __dev_change_flags+0x194/0x234 dev_change_flags+0x24/0x6c devinet_ioctl+0x3a0/0x670 inet_ioctl+0x200/0x248 sock_do_ioctl+0x60/0x118 sock_ioctl+0x274/0x35c __arm64_sys_ioctl+0xac/0xf0 invoke_syscall+0x48/0x114 ... Tested-on: QCA6698AQ hw2.1 PCI WLAN.HSP.1.1-04591-QCAHSPSWPL_V1_V2_SILICONZ_IOE-1

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

5.5/10

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

EPSS Probability

0.18%

7.3th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 5.6, < 5.10.239
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 5.11, < 5.15.186
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 5.16, < 6.1.142
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 6.2, < 6.6.94
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 6.7, < 6.12.34
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 6.13, < 6.15.3
Debian	Debian Linux	11.0

References

Timeline

Published: Jul 10, 2025
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Analyzed

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-38293?

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath11k: fix node corruption in ar->arvifs list In current WLAN recovery code flow, ath11k_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 ath11k_mac_op_remove_interface(), 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 ath11k_mac_op_remove_interface() can execute normally. Call trace: __list_del_entry_valid_or_report+0xb8/0xd0 ath11k_mac_op_remove_interface+0xb0/0x27c [ath11k] drv_remove_interface+0x48/0x194 [mac80211] ieee80211_do_stop+0x6e0/0x844 [mac80211] ieee80211_stop+0x44/0x17c [mac80211] __dev_close_many+0xac/0x150 __dev_change_flags+0x194/0x234 dev_change_flags+0x24/0x6c devinet_ioctl+0x3a0/0x670 inet_ioctl+0x200/0x248 sock_do_ioctl+0x60/0x118 sock_ioctl+0x274/0x35c __arm64_sys_ioctl+0xac/0xf0 invoke_syscall+0x48/0x114 ... Tested-on: QCA6698AQ hw2.1 PCI WLAN.HSP.1.1-04591-QCAHSPSWPL_V1_V2_SILICONZ_IOE-1

How severe is CVE-2025-38293?

CVE-2025-38293 has a CVSS score of 5.5/10 (MEDIUM severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.18% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2025-38293?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.