Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A nearby attacker may be able to trigger an out-of-bounds memory read in the Linux Wi-Fi subsystem by sending malformed multi-link Wi-Fi information. Successful exploitation could expose sensitive kernel memory or crash the system. The supplied CVSS score is 8.1 (high), but the sources provide no evidence of exploitation in the wild.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority kernel maintenance issue for Wi-Fi-enabled systems, especially mobile endpoints and devices near untrusted wireless networks. Accelerate vendor-approved updates, while avoiding claims of an active campaign: the supplied evidence does not show exploitation in the wild. Internet-facing servers without relevant Wi-Fi exposure are likely a lower operational priority.
Technical view
The flaw is in cfg80211_defrag_mle(), which incorrectly calculated bytes remaining after defragmenting a multi-link element. If that element or its fragments ended the information-element buffer, processing could continue beyond the buffer boundary. The published vector indicates adjacent-network access, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, high confidentiality impact, and high availability impact.
Likely exposure
Potentially exposed systems are Linux devices using affected kernel versions and the cfg80211 Wi-Fi stack, particularly where nearby wireless traffic can reach them. The supplied version data identifies affected releases from 6.5 through specified later branches, but does not provide reliable distribution package mappings. Confirm exposure against each Linux distributor’s advisory and backport status.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector requires adjacent-network access, meaning an attacker would generally need relevant network or radio proximity. No privileges or user interaction are indicated. The supplied record is not listed in KEV and provides no evidence of active exploitation or a public proof of concept. Practical exploitability beyond causing a crash is not established by these sources.
Researcher notes
The defect is a boundary-calculation error during multi-link element defragmentation. The fix deducts the multi-link element’s end offset from the total information-element end offset. The record supplies four stable-tree commits, suggesting branch-specific backports. Exact affected distribution builds, reachable frame paths, reliable crash behavior, and feasibility of extracting kernel memory are not established in the supplied material.
Mitigation direction
- Install a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable stable fix or distribution backport.
- Consult the Linux distribution’s advisory for corrected package versions and reboot requirements.
- Prioritize Wi-Fi-enabled endpoints operating in public, shared, or otherwise untrusted wireless environments.
- Where updating is delayed, reduce unnecessary Wi-Fi exposure according to vendor-supported operational guidance.
Validation and detection
- Inventory running kernel versions on systems with Wi-Fi capability.
- Compare installed kernel packages with distributor advisories and documented backport status.
- Verify the running kernel after remediation, including any required reboot.
- Confirm the applicable fix commit or equivalent backport exists in custom kernel source.
- Review monitoring data for unexplained kernel crashes involving cfg80211 or Wi-Fi processing.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CVE-2025-37973 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H2.85.2LinuxVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.1HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/73dde269a1a43e6b1aa92eba13ad2df58bfdd38eCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9423f6da825172b8dc60d4688ed3d147291c3be9CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e1c6d0c6199bd5f4cfc7a66ae7032b6e805f904dCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/023c1f2f0609218103cbcb48e0104b144d4a16dcCVE reference, Linux
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.