What is CVE-2025-38605?

CVE-2025-38605 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, classified as a NULL Pointer Dereference flaw (CWE-476), affecting Linux kernel versions from 6.4 onward and patched in 6.15.10, 6.16.1 and 6.17. CVE-2025-38605 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2025-38605?

CVE-2025-38605 has a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, rated Medium severity. The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2025-38605?

Yes, CVE-2025-38605 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.15.10, 6.16.1 and 6.17. If you are running Linux kernel 6.4 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

Is CVE-2025-38605 actively exploited?

CVE-2025-38605 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is NULL Pointer Dereference (CWE-476)?

The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL, typically causing a crash. See MITRE CWE for full details: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/476.html

CVE-2025-38605

Medium

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath12k: Pass ab pointer directly to ath12k_dp_tx_get_encap_type() In ath12k_dp_tx_get_encap_type(), the arvif parameter is only used to retrieve the ab pointer. In vdev delete sequence the arvif->ar could become NULL and that would trigger kernel panic. Since the caller ath12k_dp_tx() already has a valid ab pointer, pass it directly to avoid panic and unnecessary dereferencing. PC points to "ath12k_dp_tx+0x228/0x988 [ath12k]" LR points to "ath12k_dp_tx+0xc8/0x988 [ath12k]". The Backtrace obtained is as follows: ath12k_dp_tx+0x228/0x988 [ath12k] ath12k_mac_tx_check_max_limit+0x608/0x920 [ath12k] ieee80211_process_measurement_req+0x320/0x348 [mac80211] ieee80211_tx_dequeue+0x9ac/0x1518 [mac80211] ieee80211_tx_dequeue+0xb14/0x1518 [mac80211] ieee80211_tx_prepare_skb+0x224/0x254 [mac80211] ieee80211_xmit+0xec/0x100 [mac80211] __ieee80211_subif_start_xmit+0xc50/0xf40 [mac80211] ieee80211_subif_start_xmit+0x2e8/0x308 [mac80211] netdev_start_xmit+0x150/0x18c dev_hard_start_xmit+0x74/0xc0 Tested-on: QCN9274 hw2.0 PCI WLAN.WBE.1.3.1-00173-QCAHKSWPL_SILICONZ-1

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2025-08-19

Last modified 2025-11-26

CVSS version 3.1

Patch available

Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

5.5

out of 10

Medium

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

Low

Integrity

None

Availability

High

Vector string

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

Weakness type

CWE-476

CVE-2025-38605 is a NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability

What is NULL Pointer Dereference?

The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL, typically causing a crash. Learn more on MITRE CWE

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 6.4 and later are affected. Fixed in 6.15.10, 6.16.1, 6.17 and their respective stable series.

Affected from

≥ 6.4

Fixed in

✓ 6.15.10 6.15.x ✓ 6.16.1 6.16.x ✓ 6.17

References

3 total

Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/05062834350f0bf7ad1abcebc2807220e90220eb

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b508f370f88f277c95e2bd3bc47217a96d668cee

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ee4f8e7fa578f9f28cef5f409677db25f4f83d7e

Patch

Details

CVE ID CVE-2025-38605

Severity Medium

CVSS score 5.5 / 10

CVSS version 3.1

Published 2025-08-19

Modified 2025-11-26

KEV No

Patch

Yes

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2025-38605?

CVE-2025-38605 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10 , classified as a NULL Pointer Dereference flaw (CWE-476) . It affects Linux kernel versions from 6.4 onward and has been patched in 6.15.10, 6.16.1 and 6.17. CVE-2025-38605 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2025-38605?

CVE-2025-38605 has a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, rated Medium severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
Is there a patch available for CVE-2025-38605?

Yes. CVE-2025-38605 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.15.10, 6.16.1 and 6.17. If you are running Linux kernel 6.4 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
Is CVE-2025-38605 actively exploited?

No. CVE-2025-38605 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.