Vulnerability · Published Aug 16, 2025 · Assigned by Linux

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

Medium 5.5

In plain English

A medium-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 0.2% (higher than 8% of all known vulnerabilities). Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.

Severity (CVSS NVD)5.5Medium
Exploit odds (30 days)0.2%top 92.3% of all CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo reportsnot in CISA KEV
Attack toolingNoneno public tooling known

Official description

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.

Affected packages & fixed versions

EcosystemPackageFixed inAdvisory
Debian:12linux6.1.147-1DEBIAN-CVE-2025-38513
Debian:13linux6.12.41-1DEBIAN-CVE-2025-38513
Debian:14linux6.16.3-1DEBIAN-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux5.15.0-156.166UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux6.8.0-100.100UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-allwinner-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws5.15.0-1092.99UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-aws6.8.0-1046.49UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.146.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.86.8.0-1046.49~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure5.15.0-1096.105UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure6.8.0-1046.52UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.146.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.86.8.0-1051.57~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde5.15.0-1096.105.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde6.8.0-1046.53UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:25.10linux-azure-fdeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-6.86.8.0-1046.53~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-nvidiano fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-nvidia-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp5.15.0-1092.101UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp6.8.0-1047.50UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.146.14.0-1020.21~24.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.86.8.0-1047.50~22.04.2UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gke5.15.0-1089.95UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gke6.8.0-1043.48UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gkeop5.15.0-1075.83UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gkeop6.8.0-1030.33UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.86.8.0-100.100~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-ibm5.15.0-1086.89UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-ibm6.8.0-1044.44UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-ibm-6.86.8.0-1044.44~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-intelno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-intel-iot-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-intel-iotg5.15.0-1087.93UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-kvm5.15.0-1088.93UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency5.15.0-156.166UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency6.8.0-100.100.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.86.8.0-100.100.1~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia5.15.0-1087.88UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia6.8.0-1046.49UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.86.8.0-1046.49~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-lowlatency6.8.0-1046.49.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-tegra5.15.0-1045.45UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-tegra6.8.0-1020.20UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-tegra-igx5.15.0-1034.34UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-5.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.0no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.1no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.146.14.0-1016.16UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.8no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oracle5.15.0-1090.96UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oracle6.8.0-1043.44UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.146.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.86.8.0-1043.44~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-raspi5.15.0-1086.89UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-raspi6.8.0-1047.51UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-raspi-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscvno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-riscvno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscv-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.146.14.0-36.36.1~24.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.86.8.0-100.100~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-xilinx6.8.0-1023.24UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-xilinx-zynqmp5.15.0-1056.60UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38513

Affected products (as reported)

VendorProductVersions
Linux Linux 459c51ad6e1fc19e91a53798358433d3c08cd09d – before c1958270de947604cc6de05fc96dbba256b49cf0459c51ad6e1fc19e91a53798358433d3c08cd09d – before 014c34dc132015c4f918ada4982e952947ac1047459c51ad6e1fc19e91a53798358433d3c08cd09d – before b24f65c184540dfb967479320ecf7e8c2e9220dc459c51ad6e1fc19e91a53798358433d3c08cd09d – before adf08c96b963c7cd7ec1ee1c0c556228d9bedaae459c51ad6e1fc19e91a53798358433d3c08cd09d – before 5420de65efbeb6503bcf1d43451c9df67ad60298459c51ad6e1fc19e91a53798358433d3c08cd09d – before fcd9c923b58e86501450b9b442ccc7ce4a8d0fda459c51ad6e1fc19e91a53798358433d3c08cd09d – before 602b4eb2f25668de15de69860ec99caf65b3684d459c51ad6e1fc19e91a53798358433d3c08cd09d – before 74b1ec9f5d627d2bdd5e5b6f3f81c23317657023
Linux Linux 2.6.25

References