CVE-2025-38643: wifi: cfg80211: Add missing lock in cfg80211_check_and_end_cac()
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
wifi: cfg80211: Add missing lock in cfg80211checkandendcac()
Callers of wdevchandef() must hold the wiphy mutex.
But the worker cfg80211propagatecacdonewk() never takes the lock. Which triggers the warning below with the meshpeerconnecteddfs test from hostapd and not (yet) released mac80211 code changes:
WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 495 at net/wireless/chan.c:1552 wdevchandef+0x60/0x165 Modules linked in: CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 495 Comm: kworker/u4:2 Not tainted 6.14.0-rc5-wt-g03960e6f9d47 #33 13c287eeabfe1efea01c0bcc863723ab082e17cf Workqueue: cfg80211 cfg80211propagatecacdonewk Stack: 00000000 00000001 ffffff00 6093267c 00000000 6002ec30 6d577c50 60037608 00000000 67e8d108 6063717b 00000000 Call Trace: [<6002ec30>] ? printk+0x0/0x98 [<6003c2b3>] showstack+0x10e/0x11a [<6002ec30>] ? printk+0x0/0x98 [<60037608>] dumpstacklvl+0x71/0xb8 [<6063717b>] ? wdevchandef+0x60/0x165 [<6003766d>] dumpstack+0x1e/0x20 [<6005d1b7>] warn+0x101/0x20f [<6005d3a8>] warnslowpathfmt+0xe3/0x15d [<600b0c5c>] ? marklock.part.0+0x0/0x4ec [<60751191>] ? thiscpupreemptcheck+0x0/0x16 [<600b11a2>] ? markheldlocks+0x5a/0x6e [<6005d2c5>] ? warnslowpathfmt+0x0/0x15d [<60052e53>] ? unblocksignals+0x3a/0xe7 [<60052f2d>] ? umsetsignals+0x2d/0x43 [<60751191>] ? thiscpupreemptcheck+0x0/0x16 [<607508b2>] ? lockisheldtype+0x207/0x21f [<6063717b>] wdevchandef+0x60/0x165 [<605f89b4>] regulatorypropagatedfsstate+0x247/0x43f [<60052f00>] ? umsetsignals+0x0/0x43 [<605e6bfd>] cfg80211propagatecacdonewk+0x3a/0x4a [<6007e460>] processscheduledworks+0x3bc/0x60e [<6007d0ec>] ? movelinkedworks+0x4d/0x81 [<6007d120>] ? assignwork+0x0/0xaa [<6007f81f>] workerthread+0x220/0x2dc [<600786ef>] ? setpfworker+0x0/0x57 [<60087c96>] ? tokthread+0x0/0x43 [<6008ab3c>] kthread+0x2d3/0x2e2 [<6007f5ff>] ? workerthread+0x0/0x2dc [<6006c05b>] ? calculatesigpending+0x0/0x56 [<6003b37d>] newthreadhandler+0x4a/0x64 irq event stamp: 614611 hardirqs last enabled at (614621): [<00000000600bc96b>] upconsolesem+0x82/0xaf hardirqs last disabled at (614630): [<00000000600bc92c>] upconsolesem+0x43/0xaf softirqs last enabled at (614268): [<00000000606c55c6>] ieee80211wakequeue+0x933/0x985 softirqs last disabled at (614266): [<00000000606c52d6>] ieee80211wakequeue+0x643/0x985
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.6.119.3-1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
Linux kernelto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.14.0-rc5-wt-g03960e6f9d47 - Upgrade
Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Patch wifi: cfg80211: Add missing lock in cfg80211_check_and_end_cac()
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2025-38643?
CVE-2025-38643 has been categorized with a moderate severity level due to improper locking mechanisms in the Linux kernel's wifi subsystem.
How do I fix CVE-2025-38643?
To fix CVE-2025-38643, update your Linux kernel to the latest version where the vulnerability has been patched.
What components are affected by CVE-2025-38643?
CVE-2025-38643 affects the cfg80211 subsystem of the Linux kernel handling wireless configurations.
What are the potential impacts of CVE-2025-38643?
Potential impacts of CVE-2025-38643 include denial of service or instability in wireless operations due to unprotected access to shared resources.
Who can be impacted by CVE-2025-38643?
Users and systems utilizing affected versions of the Linux kernel for wireless communication could be impacted by CVE-2025-38643.