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NVD / CVE Program· CNA Linux

CVE-2025-38513: wifi: zd1211rw: Fix potential NULL pointer dereference in zd_mac_tx_to_dev()

Noroxi assessment

Priority: Monitor (action score 22/100)

  • The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
  • Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 0.16% (FIRST EPSS).
  • Someone with local access to the system can trigger it. A low-privileged account is enough. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
  • Fixed version: Linux Linux 014c34dc132015c4f918ada4982e952947ac1047, 5420de65efbeb6503bcf1d43451c9df67ad60298, 602b4eb2f25668de15de69860ec99caf65b3684d; azl3 kernel 6.6.96.2-2 on Azure Linux 3.0 6.6.104.2-1; cbl2 kernel 5.15.186.1-1 on CBL Mariner 2.0 5.15.200.1-1.

Low priority for now. Upgrade to Linux Linux 014c34dc132015c4f918ada4982e952947ac1047, 5420de65efbeb6503bcf1d43451c9df67ad60298, 602b4eb2f25668de15de69860ec99caf65b3684d; azl3 kernel 6.6.96.2-2 on Azure Linux 3.0 6.6.104.2-1; cbl2 kernel 5.15.186.1-1 on CBL Mariner 2.0 5.15.200.1-1 or later.

Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it

Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: zd1211rw: Fix potential NULL pointer dereference in zd_mac_tx_to_dev() There is a potential NULL pointer dereference in zd_mac_tx_to_dev(). For example, the following is possible: T0 T1 zd_mac_tx_to_dev() /* len == skb_queue_len(q) */ while (len > ZD_MAC_MAX_ACK_WAITERS) { filter_ack() spin_lock_irqsave(&q->lock, flags); /* position == skb_queue_len(q) */ for (i=1; i<position; i++) skb = __skb_dequeue(q) if (mac->type == NL80211_IFTYPE_AP) skb = __skb_dequeue(q); spin_unlock_irqrestore(&q->lock, flags); skb_dequeue() -> NULL Since there is a small gap between checking skb queue length and skb being unconditionally dequeued in zd_mac_tx_to_dev(), skb_dequeue() can return NULL. Then the pointer is passed to zd_mac_tx_status() where it is dereferenced. In order to avoid potential NULL pointer dereference due to situations like above, check if skb is not NULL before passing it to zd_mac_tx_status(). Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with SVACE.

MediumCVSS 5.5 · v3.1—No exploit Fix available
Published
Aug 16, 2025
Updated
Jun 17, 2026
EPSS
0.1% · 6th percentile

Report tools

JSON

Action score

22

Monitor

Low priority for now.

CVSS
22 / 40 · 5.5 / 10
CISA KEV
0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS
0 / 30 · 0.1%

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  • No public exploit code on record
  • A fix has been released

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Noroxi analysis

What does it mean in your environment?

The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.

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Affected systems

Is your version affected?

Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.

VendorProduct
linuxlinux kernel
debiandebian linux

Affected versions

NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.

  • debian debian linux11.0
  • linux linux kernel5.5 and later · before 5.10.240
  • linux linux kernel5.11 and later · before 5.15.189
  • linux linux kernel5.16 and later · before 6.1.146
  • linux linux kernel2.6.25 and later · before 5.4.296
  • linux linux kernel6.7 and later · before 6.12.39
  • linux linux kernel6.13 and later · before 6.15.7
  • linux linux kernel6.2 and later · before 6.6.99
  • linux linux kernel6.16

Versions reported by the vendor

Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (Linux). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.

  • Linux Linux

    • 2.6.25affected
    • 459c51ad6e1fc19e91a53798358433d3c08cd09d and later · before c1958270de947604cc6de05fc96dbba256b49cf0affected · git
    • 459c51ad6e1fc19e91a53798358433d3c08cd09d and later · before 014c34dc132015c4f918ada4982e952947ac1047affected · git
    • 459c51ad6e1fc19e91a53798358433d3c08cd09d and later · before b24f65c184540dfb967479320ecf7e8c2e9220dcaffected · git
    • 459c51ad6e1fc19e91a53798358433d3c08cd09d and later · before adf08c96b963c7cd7ec1ee1c0c556228d9bedaaeaffected · git
    • 459c51ad6e1fc19e91a53798358433d3c08cd09d and later · before 5420de65efbeb6503bcf1d43451c9df67ad60298affected · git
    • 459c51ad6e1fc19e91a53798358433d3c08cd09d and later · before fcd9c923b58e86501450b9b442ccc7ce4a8d0fdaaffected · git
    • 459c51ad6e1fc19e91a53798358433d3c08cd09d and later · before 602b4eb2f25668de15de69860ec99caf65b3684daffected · git
    • 459c51ad6e1fc19e91a53798358433d3c08cd09d and later · before 74b1ec9f5d627d2bdd5e5b6f3f81c23317657023affected · git
    • before 2.6.25not affected · semver

Package-level exposure

OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
Debian:12linuxbefore 6.1.147-16.1.147-1
Debian:13linuxbefore 6.12.41-16.12.41-1
Debian:14linuxbefore 6.16.3-16.16.3-1
openSUSE:Leap 16.0dtb-aarch64before 6.12.0-160000.26.16.12.0-160000.26.1
openSUSE:Leap 16.0kernel-64kbbefore 6.12.0-160000.26.16.12.0-160000.26.1
openSUSE:Leap 16.0kernel-azurebefore 6.12.0-160000.26.16.12.0-160000.26.1
openSUSE:Leap 16.0kernel-defaultbefore 6.12.0-160000.26.16.12.0-160000.26.1
openSUSE:Leap 16.0kernel-default-basebefore 6.12.0-160000.26.1.160000.2.76.12.0-160000.26.1.160000.2.7
openSUSE:Leap 16.0kernel-docsbefore 6.12.0-160000.26.16.12.0-160000.26.1
openSUSE:Leap 16.0kernel-kvmsmallbefore 6.12.0-160000.26.16.12.0-160000.26.1
openSUSE:Leap 16.0kernel-obs-buildbefore 6.12.0-160000.26.16.12.0-160000.26.1
openSUSE:Leap 16.0kernel-obs-qabefore 6.12.0-160000.26.16.12.0-160000.26.1
openSUSE:Leap 16.0kernel-rtbefore 6.12.0-160000.26.16.12.0-160000.26.1
openSUSE:Leap 16.0kernel-sourcebefore 6.12.0-160000.26.16.12.0-160000.26.1
openSUSE:Leap 16.0kernel-symsbefore 6.12.0-160000.26.16.12.0-160000.26.1
openSUSE:Leap 16.0kernel-zfcpdumpbefore 6.12.0-160000.26.16.12.0-160000.26.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 16.0kernel-azurebefore 6.12.0-160000.26.16.12.0-160000.26.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 16.0kernel-docsbefore 6.12.0-160000.26.16.12.0-160000.26.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 16.0kernel-kvmsmallbefore 6.12.0-160000.26.16.12.0-160000.26.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 16.0kernel-obs-qabefore 6.12.0-160000.26.16.12.0-160000.26.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 16.0kernel-zfcpdumpbefore 6.12.0-160000.26.16.12.0-160000.26.1
SUSE:Linux Micro 6.2kernel-64kbbefore 6.12.0-160000.26.16.12.0-160000.26.1
SUSE:Linux Micro 6.2kernel-defaultbefore 6.12.0-160000.26.16.12.0-160000.26.1
SUSE:Linux Micro 6.2kernel-default-basebefore 6.12.0-160000.26.1.160000.2.76.12.0-160000.26.1.160000.2.7

+4

Same product

linux: all records

Other highest-scoring records for the same primary product.

  • CVE-2026-31431crypto: algif_aead - Revert to operating out-of-placeKEV
    90Now
  • CVE-2022-0847A flaw was found in the way the "flags" member of the new pipe buffer structure was lacking proper initialization in copy_page_to_iter_pipe KEV
    89Now
  • CVE-2021-22555Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACEKEV
    85Now

Published before and after this one in the same product

  • ← EarlierCVE-2025-38509Aug 16, 2025 · wifi: mac80211: reject VHT opmode for unsupported channel widths
    22Monitor
  • ← EarlierCVE-2025-38510Aug 16, 2025 · kasan: remove kasan_find_vm_area() to prevent possible deadlock
    22Monitor
  • Later →CVE-2025-38515Aug 16, 2025 · drm/sched: Increment job count before swapping tail spsc queue
    18Monitor

Remediation

Which version to upgrade to

Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.

Product / packageFixed versionSource
Linux Linux014c34dc132015c4f918ada4982e952947ac1047Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linux5420de65efbeb6503bcf1d43451c9df67ad60298Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linux602b4eb2f25668de15de69860ec99caf65b3684dVendor (CNA)
Linux Linux74b1ec9f5d627d2bdd5e5b6f3f81c23317657023Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linuxadf08c96b963c7cd7ec1ee1c0c556228d9bedaaeVendor (CNA)
Linux Linuxb24f65c184540dfb967479320ecf7e8c2e9220dcVendor (CNA)
Linux Linuxc1958270de947604cc6de05fc96dbba256b49cf0Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linuxfcd9c923b58e86501450b9b442ccc7ce4a8d0fdaVendor (CNA)
azl3 kernel 6.6.96.2-2 on Azure Linux 3.06.6.104.2-1 · CBL-Mariner ReleasesMicrosoft (MSRC)
cbl2 kernel 5.15.186.1-1 on CBL Mariner 2.05.15.200.1-1 · CBL-Mariner ReleasesMicrosoft (MSRC)
debian:linux6.1.147-1 · Debian:12Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:dtb-aarch646.12.0-160000.26.1 · openSUSE:Leap 16.0Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-64kb6.12.0-160000.26.1 · openSUSE:Leap 16.0Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-azure6.12.0-160000.26.1 · openSUSE:Leap 16.0Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-default6.12.0-160000.26.1 · openSUSE:Leap 16.0Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-default-base6.12.0-160000.26.1.160000.2.7 · openSUSE:Leap 16.0Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-docs6.12.0-160000.26.1 · openSUSE:Leap 16.0Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-kvmsmall6.12.0-160000.26.1 · openSUSE:Leap 16.0Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-obs-build6.12.0-160000.26.1 · openSUSE:Leap 16.0Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-obs-qa6.12.0-160000.26.1 · openSUSE:Leap 16.0Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-rt6.12.0-160000.26.1 · openSUSE:Leap 16.0Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-source6.12.0-160000.26.1 · openSUSE:Leap 16.0Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:kernel-syms6.12.0-160000.26.1 · openSUSE:Leap 16.0Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-64kb6.12.0-160000.26.1 · SUSE:Linux Micro 6.2Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-azure6.12.0-160000.26.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 16.0Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-default6.12.0-160000.26.1 · SUSE:Linux Micro 6.2Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-default-base6.12.0-160000.26.1.160000.2.7 · SUSE:Linux Micro 6.2Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-docs6.12.0-160000.26.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 16.0Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-kvmsmall6.12.0-160000.26.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 16.0Package registry (OSV)
suse:kernel-obs-build6.12.0-160000.26.1 · SUSE:Linux Micro Extras 6.2Package registry (OSV)

+5

Exploit status

No known public exploit

No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.

Research context

For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.

Timeline

From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.

No dated events beyond publication.

No history yet (it accumulates with the daily EPSS job).

Patch and commit links

Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.

No commit or PR link among the references.

Credits

All researchers

Finders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.

No credits in the CNA record.

Variant candidates

Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.

No nightly-computed relations.

Chain candidates

An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.

—

Bug bounty scope

No known public program.

Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).

Technical details

Attack conditions

  • Someone with local access to the system can trigger it.
  • A low-privileged account is enough.
  • No user action is required.
  • No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.

If successful

Confidentiality
none
Integrity
none
Availability
high · the service can be disrupted
Attack vector
Local
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality impact
None
Integrity impact
None
Availability impact
High

Weakness class (CWE)

CWE-476 · NULL Pointer Dereference

CVSS vector

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

nvd-primary

Attack context

MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.

MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.

Change log

  1. Fix✗ → ✓

For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →

References

Show all references (9 more)

Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.

All records