Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A flaw in the Linux mt76 mt7996 Wi-Fi transmit path can access memory outside its intended boundary when a wireless link identifier is unspecified. The supplied CVSS score is 8.8, reflecting potentially serious confidentiality, integrity, and availability consequences. Actual crash, corruption, or code-execution outcomes are not established by the provided evidence.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority kernel maintenance issue for systems using mt7996 Wi-Fi hardware. Accelerate inventory and vendor-supported updates, especially where wireless networks are untrusted. Broad emergency action across systems without this driver is unsupported, and the available sources do not show active exploitation.
Technical view
CVE-2025-38599 is an out-of-bounds access in mt7996_tx() when link_id equals IEEE80211_LINK_UNSPECIFIED. The affected code is within the Linux mt76 driver for mt7996 Wi-Fi hardware. The CVSS vector indicates adjacent-network reachability, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction. Three Linux stable commits are cited as fixes.
Likely exposure
Exposure requires a Linux system using the affected mt76 mt7996 Wi-Fi driver and an affected kernel build. The bundle lists 6.15, 6.15.10, 6.16.1, and 6.17, but its version representation is ambiguous. Confirm exact downstream kernel applicability with the operating-system vendor.
Exploitation context
The supplied record is not in CISA KEV, and no source provided here reports active exploitation or a public exploit. CVSS classifies access as adjacent, suggesting proximity through a shared or reachable wireless environment. The evidence does not establish a reliable exploitation outcome beyond possible out-of-bounds access.
Researcher notes
The triggering condition is an unspecified link identifier reaching mt7996_tx(), producing possible out-of-bounds access. The source bundle provides no CWE, memory-access direction, reachable object, crash trace, proof of concept, or demonstrated security outcome. Review the cited stable commits for branch-specific correction details without assuming all downstream kernels share upstream version boundaries.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade to a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable referenced stable fix.
- Check distribution advisories for backported fixes because package versions may not match upstream numbering.
- Prioritize systems using mt7996 wireless hardware in exposed or untrusted wireless environments.
- If updating is delayed, assess whether the affected wireless interface can be safely disabled.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux hosts using the mt76 mt7996 driver or corresponding wireless hardware.
- Record running kernel and distribution package versions on identified systems.
- Compare vendor package status against the three referenced Linux stable fixes.
- After updating, verify the fixed kernel is running and affected hosts have rebooted.
- Monitor vendor advisories for clarified affected-version ranges and backport information.
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-2025-38599 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.8 (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: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:H/A:H2.85.9LinuxVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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/f82eabd0ff8067d1ee95515f4174c9a9569d54cbCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f43e7d8ae4b6a73213032545552bab26f76f113aCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/64cbf0d7ce9afe20666da90ec6ecaec6ba5ac64bCVE 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.