Vulnerability · Published Oct 15, 2025 · Assigned by Linux

CVE-2025-40000wifi: rtw89: fix use-after-free in rtw89_core_tx_kick_off_and_wait()

High 8.8

In plain English

A high-severity security flaw in Linux from Linux. There are no confirmed reports of exploitation so far. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 0.3% (higher than 19% of all known vulnerabilities). Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.

Severity (CVSS 3.1)8.8High
Exploit odds (30 days)0.3%top 81.0% of all CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo reportsCISA SSVC: none
Attack toolingNoneno public tooling known

Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: rtw89: fix use-after-free in rtw89_core_tx_kick_off_and_wait() There is a bug observed when rtw89_core_tx_kick_off_and_wait() tries to access already freed skb_data: BUG: KFENCE: use-after-free write in rtw89_core_tx_kick_off_and_wait drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/core.c:1110 CPU: 6 UID: 0 PID: 41377 Comm: kworker/u64:24 Not tainted 6.17.0-rc1+ #1 PREEMPT(lazy) Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS edk2-20250523-14.fc42 05/23/2025 Workqueue: events_unbound cfg80211_wiphy_work [cfg80211] Use-after-free write at 0x0000000020309d9d (in kfence-#251): rtw89_core_tx_kick_off_and_wait drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/core.c:1110 rtw89_core_scan_complete drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/core.c:5338 rtw89_hw_scan_complete_cb drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/fw.c:7979 rtw89_chanctx_proceed_cb drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/chan.c:3165 rtw89_chanctx_proceed drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/chan.h:141 rtw89_hw_scan_complete drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/fw.c:8012 rtw89_mac_c2h_scanofld_rsp drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/mac.c:5059 rtw89_fw_c2h_work drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/fw.c:6758 process_one_work kernel/workqueue.c:3241 worker_thread kernel/workqueue.c:3400 kthread kernel/kthread.c:463 ret_from_fork arch/x86/kernel/process.c:154 ret_from_fork_asm arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:258 kfence-#251: 0x0000000056e2393d-0x000000009943cb62, size=232, cache=skbuff_head_cache allocated by task 41377 on cpu 6 at 77869.159548s (0.009551s ago): __alloc_skb net/core/skbuff.c:659 __netdev_alloc_skb net/core/skbuff.c:734 ieee80211_nullfunc_get net/mac80211/tx.c:5844 rtw89_core_send_nullfunc drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/core.c:3431 rtw89_core_scan_complete drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/core.c:5338 rtw89_hw_scan_complete_cb drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/fw.c:7979 rtw89_chanctx_proceed_cb drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/chan.c:3165 rtw89_chanctx_proceed drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/chan.c:3194 rtw89_hw_scan_complete drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/fw.c:8012 rtw89_mac_c2h_scanofld_rsp drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/mac.c:5059 rtw89_fw_c2h_work drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/fw.c:6758 process_one_work kernel/workqueue.c:3241 worker_thread kernel/workqueue.c:3400 kthread kernel/kthread.c:463 ret_from_fork arch/x86/kernel/process.c:154 ret_from_fork_asm arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:258 freed by task 1045 on cpu 9 at 77869.168393s (0.001557s ago): ieee80211_tx_status_skb net/mac80211/status.c:1117 rtw89_pci_release_txwd_skb drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/pci.c:564 rtw89_pci_release_tx_skbs.isra.0 drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/pci.c:651 rtw89_pci_release_tx drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/pci.c:676 rtw89_pci_napi_poll drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/pci.c:4238 __napi_poll net/core/dev.c:7495 net_rx_action net/core/dev.c:7557 net/core/dev.c:7684 handle_softirqs kernel/softirq.c:580 do_softirq.part.0 kernel/softirq.c:480 __local_bh_enable_ip kernel/softirq.c:407 rtw89_pci_interrupt_threadfn drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/pci.c:927 irq_thread_fn kernel/irq/manage.c:1133 irq_thread kernel/irq/manage.c:1257 kthread kernel/kthread.c:463 ret_from_fork arch/x86/kernel/process.c:154 ret_from_fork_asm arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:258 It is a consequence of a race between the waiting and the signaling side of the completion: Waiting thread Completing thread rtw89_core_tx_kick_off_and_wait() rcu_assign_pointer(skb_data->wait, wait) /* start waiting */ wait_for_completion_timeout() rtw89_pci_tx_status() rtw89_core_tx_wait_complete() rcu_read_lock() /* signals completion and ---truncated---

Affected packages & fixed versions

EcosystemPackageFixed inAdvisory
Debian:13linux6.12.57-1DEBIAN-CVE-2025-40000
Debian:14linux6.16.12-1DEBIAN-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux6.8.0-106.106UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:25.10linux6.17.0-6.6UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-allwinner-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-aws6.8.0-1050.53UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:25.10linux-aws6.17.0-1003.3UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.86.8.0-1050.53~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure6.8.0-1051.57UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:25.10linux-azure6.17.0-1006.6UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.86.8.0-1051.57~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde6.8.0-1058.65UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:25.10linux-azure-fdeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-6.86.8.0-1058.65~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-nvidiano fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-nvidia-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp6.8.0-1052.55UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:25.10linux-gcp6.17.0-1003.3UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.86.8.0-1052.55~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gke6.8.0-1048.53UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gkeop6.8.0-1035.38UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.86.8.0-106.106~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-ibm6.8.0-1049.49UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-ibm-6.86.8.0-1049.49~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-intel-iot-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency6.8.0-106.106.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.86.8.0-106.106.1~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia6.8.0-1049.52UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.86.8.0-1049.52~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-lowlatency6.8.0-1049.52.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-tegra6.8.0-1020.20UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-5.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.0no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.1no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.8no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oracle6.8.0-1047.48UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:25.10linux-oracle6.17.0-1003.3UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.86.8.0-1047.48~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-raspi6.8.0-1050.54UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:25.10linux-raspi6.17.0-1004.4UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-raspi-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:25.10linux-realtime6.17.0-1002.3UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscvno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-riscvno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:25.10linux-riscv6.17.0-6.6.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscv-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.86.8.0-106.106~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-xilinx6.8.0-1028.29UBUNTU-CVE-2025-40000

Affected products (as reported)

VendorProductVersions
Linux Linux 1ae5ca615285d5d4f72d1de464716d85dffef19f – before 895cccf639ac015f3d5f993218cf098db82ac1451ae5ca615285d5d4f72d1de464716d85dffef19f – before f21f530b03b4b23448edb531a0cfea434cb76bb41ae5ca615285d5d4f72d1de464716d85dffef19f – before bdb3c41b358cf87d99e39d393e164f9e4a6088e61ae5ca615285d5d4f72d1de464716d85dffef19f – before 3e31a6bc07312b448fad3b45de578471f86f0e77
Linux Linux 6.4

References