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CVE Record

CVE-2025-38118: Bluetooth: MGMT: Fix UAF on mgmt_remove_adv_monitor_complete

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Bluetooth: MGMT: Fix UAF on mgmt_remove_adv_monitor_complete This reworks MGMT_OP_REMOVE_ADV_MONITOR to not use mgmt_pending_add to avoid crashes like bellow: ================================================================== BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in mgmt_remove_adv_monitor_complete+0xe5/0x540 net/bluetooth/mgmt.c:5406 Read of size 8 at addr ffff88801c53f318 by task kworker/u5:5/5341 CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 5341 Comm: kworker/u5:5 Not tainted 6.15.0-syzkaller-10402-g4cb6c8af8591 #0 PREEMPT(full) Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS 1.16.3-debian-1.16.3-2~bpo12+1 04/01/2014 Workqueue: hci0 hci_cmd_sync_work Call Trace: <TASK> dump_stack_lvl+0x189/0x250 lib/dump_stack.c:120 print_address_description mm/kasan/report.c:408 [inline] print_report+0xd2/0x2b0 mm/kasan/report.c:521 kasan_report+0x118/0x150 mm/kasan/report.c:634 mgmt_remove_adv_monitor_complete+0xe5/0x540 net/bluetooth/mgmt.c:5406 hci_cmd_sync_work+0x261/0x3a0 net/bluetooth/hci_sync.c:334 process_one_work kernel/workqueue.c:3238 [inline] process_scheduled_works+0xade/0x17b0 kernel/workqueue.c:3321 worker_thread+0x8a0/0xda0 kernel/workqueue.c:3402 kthread+0x711/0x8a0 kernel/kthread.c:464 ret_from_fork+0x3fc/0x770 arch/x86/kernel/process.c:148 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:245 </TASK> Allocated by task 5987: kasan_save_stack mm/kasan/common.c:47 [inline] kasan_save_track+0x3e/0x80 mm/kasan/common.c:68 poison_kmalloc_redzone mm/kasan/common.c:377 [inline] __kasan_kmalloc+0x93/0xb0 mm/kasan/common.c:394 kasan_kmalloc include/linux/kasan.h:260 [inline] __kmalloc_cache_noprof+0x230/0x3d0 mm/slub.c:4358 kmalloc_noprof include/linux/slab.h:905 [inline] kzalloc_noprof include/linux/slab.h:1039 [inline] mgmt_pending_new+0x65/0x240 net/bluetooth/mgmt_util.c:252 mgmt_pending_add+0x34/0x120 net/bluetooth/mgmt_util.c:279 remove_adv_monitor+0x103/0x1b0 net/bluetooth/mgmt.c:5454 hci_mgmt_cmd+0x9c9/0xef0 net/bluetooth/hci_sock.c:1719 hci_sock_sendmsg+0x6ca/0xef0 net/bluetooth/hci_sock.c:1839 sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:712 [inline] __sock_sendmsg+0x219/0x270 net/socket.c:727 sock_write_iter+0x258/0x330 net/socket.c:1131 new_sync_write fs/read_write.c:593 [inline] vfs_write+0x548/0xa90 fs/read_write.c:686 ksys_write+0x145/0x250 fs/read_write.c:738 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:63 [inline] do_syscall_64+0xfa/0x3b0 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f Freed by task 5989: kasan_save_stack mm/kasan/common.c:47 [inline] kasan_save_track+0x3e/0x80 mm/kasan/common.c:68 kasan_save_free_info+0x46/0x50 mm/kasan/generic.c:576 poison_slab_object mm/kasan/common.c:247 [inline] __kasan_slab_free+0x62/0x70 mm/kasan/common.c:264 kasan_slab_free include/linux/kasan.h:233 [inline] slab_free_hook mm/slub.c:2380 [inline] slab_free mm/slub.c:4642 [inline] kfree+0x18e/0x440 mm/slub.c:4841 mgmt_pending_foreach+0xc9/0x120 net/bluetooth/mgmt_util.c:242 mgmt_index_removed+0x10d/0x2f0 net/bluetooth/mgmt.c:9366 hci_sock_bind+0xbe9/0x1000 net/bluetooth/hci_sock.c:1314 __sys_bind_socket net/socket.c:1810 [inline] __sys_bind+0x2c3/0x3e0 net/socket.c:1841 __do_sys_bind net/socket.c:1846 [inline] __se_sys_bind net/socket.c:1844 [inline] __x64_sys_bind+0x7a/0x90 net/socket.c:1844 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:63 [inline] do_syscall_64+0xfa/0x3b0 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A flaw in the Linux Bluetooth management code can access memory after it has been freed, causing a kernel crash and potentially affecting system security. Exploitation requires local, low-privileged access; it is not described as remotely exploitable. Bluetooth-enabled, shared, or user-accessible Linux systems deserve prompt attention.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority kernel maintenance issue, especially for multi-user endpoints and Bluetooth-dependent systems. It does not currently warrant emergency remote-exploit response because local access is required and active exploitation is unsupported. Complete vendor-specific exposure mapping and patching within the normal high-severity window.

Technical view

An asynchronous MGMT_OP_REMOVE_ADV_MONITOR completion can reference a pending management object already freed during Bluetooth index removal. KASAN demonstrated a slab use-after-free in mgmt_remove_adv_monitor_complete. The correction avoids mgmt_pending_add for this operation. The supplied CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8 with local, low-privileged access and no user interaction.

Likely exposure

Exposure centers on Linux systems running affected kernel branches where Bluetooth management functionality is available to a local user. The bundle references versions from 5.12 through several 6.x branch points, but does not unambiguously define every vulnerable range. Distribution backports mean kernel version strings alone may be insufficient.

Exploitation context

The supplied evidence demonstrates a KASAN-detected kernel use-after-free and crash under testing. CVSS indicates local access and low privileges are required. The CVE is not listed in KEV, and the bundle provides no evidence of active exploitation, public weaponization, or remote exploitation.

Researcher notes

The trace shows allocation through mgmt_pending_add, freeing through mgmt_index_removed, and later dereference in the asynchronous completion handler. A kernel crash is demonstrated; confidentiality and integrity impact are represented by CVSS but not independently demonstrated in the bundle. Exact vulnerable ranges and distribution backport status require vendor confirmation.

Mitigation direction

  • Install a distribution kernel containing the applicable Linux stable fix for this CVE.
  • Check distribution advisories and changelogs because fixes may be backported without obvious version changes.
  • Prioritize shared, Bluetooth-enabled systems where untrusted users have local access.
  • Until patched, consider restricting untrusted local access and unused Bluetooth functionality after operational review.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory deployed kernel builds and identify systems with Bluetooth enabled or actively used.
  • Compare each kernel package against vendor advisories or the applicable supplied stable commit.
  • After updating and rebooting, confirm the patched kernel build is currently running.
  • Review kernel logs for Bluetooth management crashes or use-after-free indicators.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
7

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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CVE-2025-38118 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
7Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-38118Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CVECVE Program Container

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux66bd095ab5d408af106808cce302406542f70f65, 66bd095ab5d408af106808cce302406542f70f65, 66bd095ab5d408af106808cce302406542f70f65, 66bd095ab5d408af106808cce302406542f70f65, 66bd095ab5d408af106808cce302406542f70f65unaffected
LinuxLinux5.12, 0, 6.1.142, 6.6.94, 6.12.34, 6.15.3, 6.16affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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