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CVE Record

CVE-2025-38505: wifi: mwifiex: discard erroneous disassoc frames on STA interface

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mwifiex: discard erroneous disassoc frames on STA interface When operating in concurrent STA/AP mode with host MLME enabled, the firmware incorrectly sends disassociation frames to the STA interface when clients disconnect from the AP interface. This causes kernel warnings as the STA interface processes disconnect events that don't apply to it: [ 1303.240540] WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 513 at net/wireless/mlme.c:141 cfg80211_process_disassoc+0x78/0xec [cfg80211] [ 1303.250861] Modules linked in: 8021q garp stp mrp llc rfcomm bnep btnxpuart nls_iso8859_1 nls_cp437 onboard_us [ 1303.327651] CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 513 Comm: kworker/u9:2 Not tainted 6.16.0-rc1+ #3 PREEMPT [ 1303.335937] Hardware name: Toradex Verdin AM62 WB on Verdin Development Board (DT) [ 1303.343588] Workqueue: MWIFIEX_RX_WORK_QUEUE mwifiex_rx_work_queue [mwifiex] [ 1303.350856] pstate: 60000005 (nZCv daif -PAN -UAO -TCO -DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) [ 1303.357904] pc : cfg80211_process_disassoc+0x78/0xec [cfg80211] [ 1303.364065] lr : cfg80211_process_disassoc+0x70/0xec [cfg80211] [ 1303.370221] sp : ffff800083053be0 [ 1303.373590] x29: ffff800083053be0 x28: 0000000000000000 x27: 0000000000000000 [ 1303.380855] x26: 0000000000000000 x25: 00000000ffffffff x24: ffff000002c5b8ae [ 1303.388120] x23: ffff000002c5b884 x22: 0000000000000001 x21: 0000000000000008 [ 1303.395382] x20: ffff000002c5b8ae x19: ffff0000064dd408 x18: 0000000000000006 [ 1303.402646] x17: 3a36333a61623a30 x16: 32206d6f72662063 x15: ffff800080bfe048 [ 1303.409910] x14: ffff000003625300 x13: 0000000000000001 x12: 0000000000000000 [ 1303.417173] x11: 0000000000000002 x10: ffff000003958600 x9 : ffff000003625300 [ 1303.424434] x8 : ffff00003fd9ef40 x7 : ffff0000039fc280 x6 : 0000000000000002 [ 1303.431695] x5 : ffff0000038976d4 x4 : 0000000000000000 x3 : 0000000000003186 [ 1303.438956] x2 : 000000004836ba20 x1 : 0000000000006986 x0 : 00000000d00479de [ 1303.446221] Call trace: [ 1303.448722] cfg80211_process_disassoc+0x78/0xec [cfg80211] (P) [ 1303.454894] cfg80211_rx_mlme_mgmt+0x64/0xf8 [cfg80211] [ 1303.460362] mwifiex_process_mgmt_packet+0x1ec/0x460 [mwifiex] [ 1303.466380] mwifiex_process_sta_rx_packet+0x1bc/0x2a0 [mwifiex] [ 1303.472573] mwifiex_handle_rx_packet+0xb4/0x13c [mwifiex] [ 1303.478243] mwifiex_rx_work_queue+0x158/0x198 [mwifiex] [ 1303.483734] process_one_work+0x14c/0x28c [ 1303.487845] worker_thread+0x2cc/0x3d4 [ 1303.491680] kthread+0x12c/0x208 [ 1303.495014] ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20 Add validation in the STA receive path to verify that disassoc/deauth frames originate from the connected AP. Frames that fail this check are discarded early, preventing them from reaching the MLME layer and triggering WARN_ON(). This filtering logic is similar with that used in the ieee80211_rx_mgmt_disassoc() function in mac80211, which drops disassoc frames that don't match the current BSSID (!ether_addr_equal(mgmt->bssid, sdata->vif.cfg.ap_addr)), ensuring only relevant frames are processed. Tested on: - 8997 with FW 16.68.1.p197

HighCVSS 7.1Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux Wi-Fi driver flaw can mishandle client disconnects when a device simultaneously acts as a wireless client and access point. The resulting incorrect disconnect event can trigger kernel warnings and potentially disrupt availability. Systems not using the mwifiex driver in this specific operating mode are unlikely to be exposed.

Executive priority

Treat this as high priority for exposed embedded, gateway, or operational devices using mwifiex in concurrent mode, especially where outages matter. Expedite inventory and supported kernel updates. Systems without mwifiex or without the required concurrent configuration can be deprioritized after verification.

Technical view

In concurrent STA/AP mode with host MLME enabled, mwifiex firmware may route AP-client disassociation frames to the STA interface. The STA receive path previously accepted frames unrelated to its connected access point, allowing them to reach cfg80211 and trigger WARN_ON(). The fix discards disassociation or deauthentication frames whose BSSID does not match the STA's connected AP.

Likely exposure

Exposure requires Linux using the mwifiex Wi-Fi driver, concurrent STA/AP operation, and host MLME. The supplied record identifies affected kernel versions including 6.12, 6.12.39, 6.15.7, and 6.16, but its version structure is ambiguous. Testing used 8997 firmware 16.68.1.p197; this does not establish exclusivity.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector describes adjacent-network access, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction, with high availability and low integrity impact. The supplied record is not in KEV and provides no evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit. Practical reachability depends on the specified driver and operating configuration.

Researcher notes

The security boundary is BSSID validation in the mwifiex STA management receive path. The correction mirrors mac80211 behavior by rejecting disassociation and deauthentication frames not originating from the connected AP. The bundle demonstrates a kernel warning path, but does not document observed crashes, persistence, confidentiality impact, exploit publication, or exploitation in the wild.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply a vendor-supported kernel update incorporating the applicable linked stable fix.
  • Confirm the update matches the deployed kernel branch and hardware vendor guidance.
  • Where operationally safe, avoid concurrent STA/AP mode with host MLME until updated.
  • Prioritize Wi-Fi gateways and embedded devices where service interruption has operational consequences.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux devices using the mwifiex driver and record their exact kernel versions.
  • Identify devices running concurrent STA/AP mode with host MLME enabled.
  • Review kernel logs for cfg80211_process_disassoc warnings involving mwifiex receive processing.
  • Verify the installed kernel contains the applicable linked stable commit.
  • Test AP-client disconnections and confirm the STA interface remains connected without kernel warnings.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

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

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CVE-2025-38505 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.1 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/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
0ADP providers
4Source 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
7.1CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H2.84.2Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.1High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-38505Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux36995892c271cce5e2230bc165a06f109b117222, 36995892c271cce5e2230bc165a06f109b117222, 36995892c271cce5e2230bc165a06f109b117222unaffected
LinuxLinux6.12, 0, 6.12.39, 6.15.7, 6.16affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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