CVE-2025-39746: wifi: ath10k: shutdown driver when hardware is unreliable
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
wifi: ath10k: shutdown driver when hardware is unreliable
In rare cases, ath10k may lose connection with the PCIe bus due to some unknown reasons, which could further lead to system crashes during resuming due to watchdog timeout:
ath10kpci 0000:01:00.0: wmi command 20486 timeout, restarting hardware ath10kpci 0000:01:00.0: already restarting ath10kpci 0000:01:00.0: failed to stop WMI vdev 0: -11 ath10kpci 0000:01:00.0: failed to stop vdev 0: -11 ieee80211 phy0: PM: DPM device timeout Call Trace: panic+0x125/0x315 dpmwatchdogset+0x54/0x54 dpmwatchdoghandler+0x57/0x57 calltimerfn+0x31/0x13c
At this point, all WMI commands will timeout and attempt to restart device. So set a threshold for consecutive restart failures. If the threshold is exceeded, consider the hardware is unreliable and all ath10k operations should be skipped to avoid system crash.
failcontcount and pendingrecovery are atomic variables, and do not involve complex conditional logic. Therefore, even if recovery check and reconfig complete are executed concurrently, the recovery mechanism will not be broken.
Tested-on: QCA6174 hw3.2 PCI WLAN.RM.4.4.1-00288-QCARMSWPZ-1
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Compensating control
Shut down the ath10k driver when the hardware is deemed unreliable after the threshold for consecutive restart failures is exceeded.
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2025-39746?
CVE-2025-39746 is classified as a high severity vulnerability due to potential system crashes and loss of connectivity.
How do I fix CVE-2025-39746?
To fix CVE-2025-39746, you should upgrade to the latest stable version of the Linux kernel that includes the patch addressing this vulnerability.
What is the impact of CVE-2025-39746 on system stability?
The impact of CVE-2025-39746 on system stability can lead to crashes during system resume when the ath10k driver encounters issues with the PCIe bus.
Which systems are affected by CVE-2025-39746?
CVE-2025-39746 affects systems running the Linux kernel with the ath10k wireless driver.
Is there a workaround for CVE-2025-39746?
A temporary workaround for CVE-2025-39746 may involve disabling the ath10k driver to prevent system crashes until a patch is applied.