CVE-2025-38605
kernel: wifi: ath12k: Pass ab pointer directly to ath12k_dp_tx_get_encap_type()
Severity
ModerateRed Hat Product Security
CVSS 3.1
Review impact separately from score.
Published · August 19, 2025
Updated · June 30, 2026
Description
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
Statement
This bug in the ath12k Wi-Fi driver could lead to a kernel panic during the TX path when a virtual interface (arvif) was deleted. The driver attempted to dereference arvif->ar even though the radio object was no longer valid, resulting in a NULL pointer dereference.
CVSS score applicability
The CVSS score(s) listed for this vulnerability do not reflect the associated product's status, and are included for informational purposes to better understand the severity of this vulnerability.
Mitigation
No mitigation is specified in collected source.
CVSS / CWE
CVSS 3.1 · 5.5CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CWE-476 · NULL Pointer Dereference