CVE-2025-38604

Description

From CVE.org

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: rtl818x: Kill URBs before clearing tx status queue In rtl8187_stop() move the call of usb_kill_anchored_urbs() before clearing b_tx_status.queue. This change prevents callbacks from using already freed skb due to anchor was not killed before freeing such skb. BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000080 #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode #PF: error_code(0x0000) - not-present page PGD 0 P4D 0 Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI CPU: 7 UID: 0 PID: 0 Comm: swapper/7 Not tainted 6.15.0 #8 PREEMPT(voluntary) Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 0.0.0 02/06/2015 RIP: 0010:ieee80211_tx_status_irqsafe+0x21/0xc0 [mac80211] Call Trace: <IRQ> rtl8187_tx_cb+0x116/0x150 [rtl8187] __usb_hcd_giveback_urb+0x9d/0x120 usb_giveback_urb_bh+0xbb/0x140 process_one_work+0x19b/0x3c0 bh_worker+0x1a7/0x210 tasklet_action+0x10/0x30 handle_softirqs+0xf0/0x340 __irq_exit_rcu+0xcd/0xf0 common_interrupt+0x85/0xa0 </IRQ> Tested on RTL8187BvE device. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with SVACE.

Statement

A race in rtl8187_stop() allowed the TX status queue to be freed while anchored URBs were still alive, so a completion callback could dereference a freed skb, causing a kernel crash. The fix kills all anchored URBs before clearing the TX status queue, closing the UAF window. Exploitation requires local privileged control over the device lifecycle (e.g., bringing the interface down or removing the USB dongle), so the impact is DoS only.

Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details

Info alert:Important note

CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).

The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.

CVSS v3 Score Breakdown

Red HatNVDcve.org
Base Score4.45.57.8
Attack VectorLocalLocalLocal
Attack ComplexityLowLowLow
Privileges RequiredHighLowLow
User InteractionNoneNoneNone
ScopeUnchangedUnchangedUnchanged
ConfidentialityNoneNoneHigh
Integrity ImpactNoneNoneHigh
Availability ImpactHighHighHigh

Vector

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

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

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

Understanding the Weakness (CWE)

Integrity

Technical Impact: Modify Memory

The use of previously freed memory may corrupt valid data, if the memory area in question has been allocated and used properly elsewhere.

Availability

Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart

If chunk consolidation occurs after the use of previously freed data, the process may crash when invalid data is used as chunk information.

Confidentiality

Technical Impact: Read Memory

Read operations on freed memory can sometimes leak sensitive information instead of causing a crash

Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability

Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands

If malicious data is entered before chunk consolidation can take place, it may be possible to take advantage of a write-what-where primitive to execute arbitrary code. If the newly allocated data happens to hold a class, in C++ for example, various function pointers may be scattered within the heap data. If one of these function pointers is overwritten with an address to valid shellcode, execution of arbitrary code can be achieved.

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