CVE-2025-21910: wifi: cfg80211: regulatory: improve invalid hints checking

Published Apr 1, 2025
·
Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

wifi: cfg80211: regulatory: improve invalid hints checking

Syzbot keeps reporting an issue [1] that occurs when erroneous symbols sent from userspace get through into useralpha2[] via regulatoryhintuser() call. Such invalid regulatory hints should be rejected.

While a sanity check from commit 47caf685a685 ("cfg80211: regulatory: reject invalid hints") looks to be enough to deter these very cases, there is a way to get around it due to 2 reasons.

1) The way isalpha() works, symbols other than latin lower and upper letters may be used to determine a country/domain. For instance, greek letters will also be considered upper/lower letters and for such characters isalpha() will return true as well. However, ISO-3166-1 alpha2 codes should only hold latin characters.

2) While processing a user regulatory request, between regprocesshintuser() and regulatoryhintuser() there happens to be a call to queueregulatoryrequest() which modifies letters in request->alpha2[] with toupper(). This works fine for latin symbols, less so for weird letter characters from the second part of ctype[].

Syzbot triggers a warning in isuserregdomsaved() by first sending over an unexpected non-latin letter that gets malformed by toupper() into a character that ends up failing isalpha() check.

Prevent this by enhancing isanalpha2() to ensure that incoming symbols are latin letters and nothing else.

[1] Syzbot report: ------------[ cut here ]------------ Unexpected user alpha2: A� WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 964 at net/wireless/reg.c:442 isuserregdomsaved net/wireless/reg.c:440 [inline] WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 964 at net/wireless/reg.c:442 restorealpha2 net/wireless/reg.c:3424 [inline] WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 964 at net/wireless/reg.c:442 restoreregulatorysettings+0x3c0/0x1e50 net/wireless/reg.c:3516 Modules linked in: CPU: 1 UID: 0 PID: 964 Comm: kworker/1:2 Not tainted 6.12.0-rc5-syzkaller-00044-gc1e939a21eb1 #0 Hardware name: Google Google Compute Engine/Google Compute Engine, BIOS Google 09/13/2024 Workqueue: eventspowerefficient crdatimeoutwork RIP: 0010:isuserregdomsaved net/wireless/reg.c:440 [inline] RIP: 0010:restorealpha2 net/wireless/reg.c:3424 [inline] RIP: 0010:restoreregulatorysettings+0x3c0/0x1e50 net/wireless/reg.c:3516 ... Call Trace: <TASK> crdatimeoutwork+0x27/0x50 net/wireless/reg.c:542 processonework kernel/workqueue.c:3229 [inline] processscheduledworks+0xa65/0x1850 kernel/workqueue.c:3310 workerthread+0x870/0xd30 kernel/workqueue.c:3391 kthread+0x2f2/0x390 kernel/kthread.c:389 retfromfork+0x4d/0x80 arch/x86/kernel/process.c:147 retfromforkasm+0x1a/0x30 arch/x86/entry/entry64.S:244 </TASK>

Affected Software

225 affected componentsFixes available
Linux Linux kernel
Linux Linux kernel>=2.6.34<5.4.291
Linux Linux kernel>=5.5<5.10.235
Linux Linux kernel>=5.11<5.15.179
Linux Linux kernel>=5.16<6.1.131
Linux Linux kernel>=6.2<6.6.83
Linux Linux kernel>=6.7<6.12.19
Linux Linux kernel>=6.13<6.13.7
Linux Linux kernel=6.14-rc1
Linux Linux kernel=6.14-rc2
Linux Linux kernel=6.14-rc3
Linux Linux kernel=6.14-rc4
Linux Linux kernel=6.14-rc5
ubuntu/linux*
ubuntu/linux-aws*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-lts-xenial*
ubuntu/linux*
ubuntu/linux-aws*
ubuntu/linux-aws-hwe*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-hwe*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-kvm*
ubuntu/linux-oracle*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux*
ubuntu/linux-aws*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.4<5.4.0-1146.156~18.04.1
5.4.0-1146.156~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-azure-4.15*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.4<5.4.0-1151.158~18.04.1
5.4.0-1151.158~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-4.15*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.4<5.4.0-1149.158~18.04.1
5.4.0-1149.158~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-hwe*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.4<5.4.0-216.236~18.04.1
5.4.0-216.236~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.4<5.4.0-1092.97~18.04.1
5.4.0-1092.97~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-kvm*
ubuntu/linux-oem*
ubuntu/linux-oracle*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.4<5.4.0-1144.154~18.04.1
5.4.0-1144.154~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-raspi-5.4<5.4.0-1129.142~18.04.1
5.4.0-1129.142~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux<5.4.0-216.236
5.4.0-216.236
ubuntu/linux-aws<5.4.0-1146.156
5.4.0-1146.156
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15<5.15.0-1084.91~20.04.1
5.15.0-1084.91~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure<5.4.0-1151.158
5.4.0-1151.158
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15<5.15.0-1089.98~20.04.1
5.15.0-1089.98~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-bluefield<5.4.0-1105.112
5.4.0-1105.112
ubuntu/linux-gcp<5.4.0-1149.158
5.4.0-1149.158
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15<5.15.0-1083.92~20.04.1
5.15.0-1083.92~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-ibm<5.4.0-1092.97
5.4.0-1092.97
ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15<5.15.0-1076.79~20.04.1
5.15.0-1076.79~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15<5.15.0-1079.85~20.04.1
5.15.0-1079.85~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-kvm<5.4.0-1133.142
5.4.0-1133.142
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15<5.15.0-140.150~20.04.1
5.15.0-140.150~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-oracle<5.4.0-1144.154
5.4.0-1144.154
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15<5.15.0-1081.87~20.04.1
5.15.0-1081.87~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-raspi<5.4.0-1129.142
5.4.0-1129.142
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15<5.15.0-1079.83~20.04.1
5.15.0-1079.83~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp<5.4.0-1064.68
5.4.0-1064.68
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-gke*
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15<5.15.0-142.152~20.04.1
5.15.0-142.152~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-iot<5.4.0-1051.54
5.4.0-1051.54
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15<5.15.0-1039.39~20.04.1
5.15.0-1039.39~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-raspi2*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<5.4.0-1146.156+fips1
5.4.0-1146.156+fips1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<5.4.0-1151.158+fips1
5.4.0-1151.158+fips1
ubuntu/linux-fips<5.4.0-1120.130
5.4.0-1120.130
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<5.4.0-1149.158+fips1
5.4.0-1149.158+fips1
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux<5.15.0-140.150
5.15.0-140.150
ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws<5.15.0-1084.91
5.15.0-1084.91
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8<6.8.0-1039.41~22.04.1
6.8.0-1039.41~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure<5.15.0-1089.98
5.15.0-1089.98
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8<6.8.0-1036.42~22.04.1
6.8.0-1036.42~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<5.15.0-1089.98.1
5.15.0-1089.98.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-gcp<5.15.0-1083.92
5.15.0-1083.92
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8<6.8.0-1040.42~22.04.1
6.8.0-1040.42~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gke<5.15.0-1081.87
5.15.0-1081.87
ubuntu/linux-gkeop<5.15.0-1066.74
5.15.0-1066.74
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.8<6.8.0-85.85~22.04.1
6.8.0-85.85~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-ibm<5.15.0-1076.79
5.15.0-1076.79
ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8<6.8.0-1037.37~22.04.1
6.8.0-1037.37~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg<5.15.0-1079.85
5.15.0-1079.85
ubuntu/linux-kvm<5.15.0-1080.85
5.15.0-1080.85
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<5.15.0-140.150
5.15.0-140.150
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8<6.8.0-84.84.1~22.04.1
6.8.0-84.84.1~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-nvidia<5.15.0-1078.79
5.15.0-1078.79
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8<6.8.0-1039.42~22.04.1
6.8.0-1039.42~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra<5.15.0-1037.37
5.15.0-1037.37
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-igx<5.15.0-1026.26
5.15.0-1026.26
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-oracle<5.15.0-1081.87
5.15.0-1081.87
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8<6.8.0-1037.38~22.04.1
6.8.0-1037.38~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-raspi<5.15.0-1078.81
5.15.0-1078.81
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8<6.8.0-84.84~22.04.1
6.8.0-84.84~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp<5.15.0-1050.54
5.15.0-1050.54
ubuntu/linux-bluefield<5.15.0-1066.68
5.15.0-1066.68
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime<5.15.0-1077.79
5.15.0-1077.79
ubuntu/linux-realtime<5.15.0-1084.93
5.15.0-1084.93
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8<6.8.1-1034.35~22.04.1
6.8.1-1034.35~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<5.15.0-1084.91+fips1
5.15.0-1084.91+fips1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<5.15.0-1089.98+fips1
5.15.0-1089.98+fips1
ubuntu/linux-fips<5.15.0-140.150+fips1
5.15.0-140.150+fips1
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<5.15.0-1083.92+fips1
5.15.0-1083.92+fips1
ubuntu/linux<6.8.0-84.84
6.8.0-84.84
ubuntu/linux-aws<6.8.0-1039.41
6.8.0-1039.41
ubuntu/linux-azure<6.8.0-1038.44
6.8.0-1038.44
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11<6.11.0-1018.18~24.04.1
6.11.0-1018.18~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia<6.8.0-1025.27
6.8.0-1025.27
ubuntu/linux-gcp<6.8.0-1040.42
6.8.0-1040.42
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11<6.11.0-1016.16~24.04.1
6.11.0-1016.16~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gke<6.8.0-1036.40
6.8.0-1036.40
ubuntu/linux-gkeop<6.8.0-1023.25
6.8.0-1023.25
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11<6.11.0-28.28~24.04.1
6.11.0-28.28~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-ibm<6.8.0-1037.37
6.8.0-1037.37
ubuntu/linux-intel*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<6.8.0-84.84.1
6.8.0-84.84.1
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11<6.11.0-1015.16~24.04.2
6.11.0-1015.16~24.04.2
ubuntu/linux-nvidia<6.8.0-1039.42
6.8.0-1039.42
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11<6.11.0-1012.12
6.11.0-1012.12
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency<6.8.0-1039.42.1
6.8.0-1039.42.1
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra<6.8.0-1010.10
6.8.0-1010.10
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11<6.11.0-1024.24
6.11.0-1024.24
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-oracle<6.8.0-1037.38
6.8.0-1037.38
ubuntu/linux-raspi<6.8.0-1039.43
6.8.0-1039.43
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-xilinx<6.8.0-1018.19
6.8.0-1018.19
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime<6.8.0-2030.31
6.8.0-2030.31
ubuntu/linux-realtime<6.8.1-1034.35
6.8.1-1034.35
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<6.8.0-1039.41+fips1
6.8.0-1039.41+fips1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<6.8.0-1040.46+fips1
6.8.0-1040.46+fips1
ubuntu/linux-fips<6.8.0-84.84+fips1
6.8.0-84.84+fips1
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<6.8.0-1040.42+fips1
6.8.0-1040.42+fips1
debian/linux
6.1.176-16.1.190-16.12.107-16.12.115-27.2.12-17.2.15-1

Event History

Apr 1, 2025
CVE Published
via MITRE·03:40 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·03:40 PM
Description
Data Sourced
via OSV·04:15 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Event
via OSV·04:15 PM
Data Sourced
via NVD·04:15 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

Peer vulnerabilities

Found alongside the following vulnerabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2025-21910?

CVE-2025-21910 has been categorized as a high-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel.

2

How do I fix CVE-2025-21910?

To fix CVE-2025-21910, update your Linux kernel to version 6.12.0-rc6 or later.

3

Which versions of the Linux kernel are affected by CVE-2025-21910?

CVE-2025-21910 affects Linux kernel versions prior to 6.12.0-rc6.

4

What impact does CVE-2025-21910 have on system security?

CVE-2025-21910 can potentially allow unauthorized access to regulatory hints, compromising system security.

5

Is there a public exploit for CVE-2025-21910?

As of now, there are no known public exploits targeting CVE-2025-21910.

Contact

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