Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A nearby attacker may abuse malformed Wi-Fi fragments against Linux systems using the MediaTek mt7996 wireless driver. Successful exploitation could expose or alter data and cause limited disruption. The issue is serious but proximity to the wireless network is required.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority patching item for confirmed mt7996 deployments, especially security-sensitive wireless infrastructure. It is less urgent for systems without that driver or without plausible nearby attackers. Request rapid asset identification before broad emergency action.
Technical view
The mt76 mt7996 driver accepted fragmented IEEE 802.11 frames whose receiver address was multicast or broadcast, although fragmentation is valid only for unicast frames. Linux resolved this by dropping those invalid fragments. The supplied CVSS 3.1 score is 8.3, with adjacent-network access, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux devices using the mt76 mt7996 Wi-Fi driver and a vulnerable kernel build. The bundle lists several affected releases and commit identifiers, but does not clearly express complete version ranges. Confirm exposure by matching deployed kernel sources or vendor packages against the referenced stable fixes.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector indicates an attacker must be adjacent, typically within relevant wireless reach. The bundle does not establish internet-remote exploitation. It reports no CISA KEV listing and provides no evidence of active exploitation or a public working exploit.
Researcher notes
The correction enforces the 802.11 rule that fragmentation applies only to unicast frames by rejecting fragmented multicast or broadcast receiver addresses. The description associates this class with CVE-2020-26145. No CWE, exploit demonstration, or complete affected-version mapping is supplied, so package-level conclusions require vendor verification.
Mitigation direction
- Apply a vendor-supported kernel update containing the referenced stable fix.
- Prioritize exposed wireless infrastructure and devices using the mt7996 driver.
- If updating is delayed, consult the system vendor for supported mitigations.
- Limit untrusted proximity to affected wireless networks where operationally practical.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions and wireless hardware across managed devices.
- Confirm whether the mt76 mt7996 driver is present and active.
- Compare vendor kernel packages or source revisions with the referenced fix commits.
- After updating, verify the running kernel includes the vendor-confirmed correction.
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-2025-38343 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L
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:H/A:L2.85.5LinuxVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.3HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L
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/24900688ee47071aa6a61e78473999b5b80f0423CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d4b93f9c2f666011dcf810050ef60a6b8d06f186CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5fd5b8132b5de08c99eea003f7715ff2e361b007CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/80fda1cd7b0a1edd0849dc71403a070d0922118dCVE 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.