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CVE Record

CVE-2025-38644: wifi: mac80211: reject TDLS operations when station is not associated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mac80211: reject TDLS operations when station is not associated syzbot triggered a WARN in ieee80211_tdls_oper() by sending NL80211_TDLS_ENABLE_LINK immediately after NL80211_CMD_CONNECT, before association completed and without prior TDLS setup. This left internal state like sdata->u.mgd.tdls_peer uninitialized, leading to a WARN_ON() in code paths that assumed it was valid. Reject the operation early if not in station mode or not associated.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2025-38644 is a Linux kernel WiFi bug where a TDLS operation can be accepted before a station is fully associated. The documented result is a kernel WARN caused by invalid internal state assumptions. The sources do not provide CVSS, confirmed exploitation, or broader impact details.

Executive priority

Treat as a targeted kernel maintenance item, not an emergency from the provided evidence. Prioritize patching wireless-capable Linux endpoints and appliances, especially where kernel updates are already operationally scheduled.

Technical view

In mac80211, ieee80211_tdls_oper() could process NL80211_TDLS_ENABLE_LINK after NL80211_CMD_CONNECT but before association and TDLS setup. Internal state such as sdata->u.mgd.tdls_peer could remain uninitialized, reaching a WARN_ON(). The fix rejects TDLS operations unless the interface is station mode and associated.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems using affected kernel builds with WiFi/mac80211 station functionality. The source lists Linux kernel versions and stable commits but does not define privilege requirements, reachable configurations, or whether typical server workloads are exposed.

Exploitation context

The issue was reported through syzbot testing. KEV status is false in the supplied bundle, and no cited source states active exploitation. The bundle does not establish practical exploitation beyond triggering the described WARN path.

Researcher notes

The public record identifies a state-validation flaw in TDLS handling, fixed by early rejection when not in station mode or not associated. Missing data includes CVSS, CWE, privilege requirements, denial-of-service impact, and real-world exploit evidence.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply Linux kernel or distribution updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • For Debian LTS systems, review the cited Debian LTS advisory.
  • Prioritize systems with WiFi/mac80211 enabled or client-mode wireless use.
  • If no update exists, check vendor guidance before applying compensating controls.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across wireless-capable assets.
  • Confirm vendor kernels include one of the referenced stable fixes or backports.
  • Check whether WiFi/mac80211 station mode is enabled on exposed systems.
  • Track distro advisories for package-level fixed versions and rollout status.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
9

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

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.

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CVE-2025-38644 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
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.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
8Source links

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
LinuxLinux81dd2b8822410e56048b927be779d95a2b6dc186, 81dd2b8822410e56048b927be779d95a2b6dc186, 81dd2b8822410e56048b927be779d95a2b6dc186, 81dd2b8822410e56048b927be779d95a2b6dc186, 81dd2b8822410e56048b927be779d95a2b6dc186, 81dd2b8822410e56048b927be779d95a2b6dc186unaffected
LinuxLinux3.17, 0, 6.1.148, 6.6.102, 6.12.42, 6.15.10, 6.16.1, 6.17affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.