CVE-2025-37973
📋 TL;DR
A buffer overflow vulnerability in the Linux kernel's WiFi subsystem allows attackers to cause out-of-bounds memory access during multi-link element defragmentation. This affects systems using WiFi with multi-link capabilities, potentially leading to kernel crashes or arbitrary code execution. All Linux systems with vulnerable kernel versions are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel
📦 What is this software?
Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Kernel panic leading to system crash, or potential arbitrary code execution with kernel privileges resulting in complete system compromise.
Likely Case
System instability, kernel crashes, or denial of service affecting WiFi connectivity and system reliability.
If Mitigated
Minor performance impact or no effect if WiFi multi-link features are disabled or not in use.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires WiFi proximity and specific multi-link element manipulation. No public exploits known at this time.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Patches available in stable kernel branches via provided git commits
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/023c1f2f0609218103cbcb48e0104b144d4a16dc
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to patched version. 2. Check distribution-specific security advisories. 3. Rebuild kernel if using custom kernel. 4. Reboot system after kernel update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable WiFi multi-link features
linuxDisable multi-link element processing in WiFi configuration
# Requires kernel reconfiguration or module parameters
# Not a simple command-line workaround
Disable WiFi entirely
linuxTurn off WiFi interfaces to prevent exploitation
sudo ip link set wlan0 down
sudo rfkill block wifi
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable WiFi interfaces on critical systems
- Implement network segmentation to isolate WiFi networks from sensitive systems
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check kernel version and verify if WiFi multi-link is enabled. Vulnerable if using unpatched kernel with WiFi active.Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes one of the patched commits: 023c1f2f0609, 73dde269a1a4, 9423f6da8251, or e1c6d0c6199b📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic logs
- WiFi subsystem crash messages
- System instability after WiFi activity
Network Indicators:
- Unusual WiFi packet patterns targeting multi-link elements
- Malformed WiFi frames
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("panic" OR "oops" OR "cfg80211") AND ("wifi" OR "802.11")