CVE-2025-71227 – This Linux kernel vulnerability in the mac80211... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2025-71227?

CVE-2025-71227 has a CVSS score of N/A (Unknown). This Linux kernel vulnerability in the mac80211 WiFi subsystem could allow connections on invalid or disabled channels when regulatory changes occur between scanning and connection attempts. It affects Linux systems using WiFi, potentially causing connection issues or instability. The vulnerability was triggered by a warning that has been replaced with a more informative error message.

📋 TL;DR

This Linux kernel vulnerability in the mac80211 WiFi subsystem could allow connections on invalid or disabled channels when regulatory changes occur between scanning and connection attempts. It affects Linux systems using WiFi, potentially causing connection issues or instability. The vulnerability was triggered by a warning that has been replaced with a more informative error message.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Linux kernel

Versions: Specific affected versions not specified in CVE, but patches available for stable branches

Operating Systems: Linux distributions using affected kernel versions

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Only affects systems using WiFi with mac80211 subsystem; requires specific timing of regulatory changes between scanning and connection

⚠️ Manual Verification Required

This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.

Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).

🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.

Recommended Actions:

Review the CVE details at NVD
Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

System crash or kernel panic due to invalid channel operations, potentially leading to denial of service on affected WiFi interfaces.

🟠

Likely Case

Connection failures or instability when regulatory domain changes disable previously available channels, causing WiFi connectivity issues.

🟢

If Mitigated

Graceful error handling with informative messages instead of warnings, preventing crashes while maintaining functionality.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW - Requires local WiFi access and specific timing conditions for exploitation.

🏢 Internal Only: LOW - Primarily affects WiFi connectivity stability rather than security.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: NO

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: HIGH

Discovered by syzbot fuzzer; requires specific timing conditions with regulatory domain changes

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Patches available in stable kernel branches (commits 10d3ff7e5812c8d70300f6fa8f524009a06aa7e1 and 99067b58a408a384d2a45c105eb3dce980a862ce)

Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/10d3ff7e5812c8d70300f6fa8f524009a06aa7e1

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Update Linux kernel to patched version from distribution repositories. 2. Reboot system to load new kernel. 3. Verify kernel version matches patched release.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable WiFi regulatory domain auto-updates

linux

Prevent automatic regulatory domain changes that could trigger the vulnerability

echo 'options cfg80211 ieee80211_regdom=US' > /etc/modprobe.d/cfg80211.conf
modprobe -r cfg80211
modprobe cfg80211

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Monitor WiFi connection logs for channel-related errors and restart WiFi interfaces if issues occur
Implement network monitoring to detect WiFi connectivity disruptions and alert administrators

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check kernel version and compare with patched releases from distribution vendor

Check Version:

uname -r

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify kernel version includes the specific commit hashes: 10d3ff7e5812c8d70300f6fa8f524009a06aa7e1 or 99067b58a408a384d2a45c105eb3dce980a862ce

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Kernel warnings about invalid channels in mac80211
dmesg output showing 'WARNING' related to WiFi channels
System logs showing WiFi connection failures after regulatory changes

Network Indicators:

Intermittent WiFi connectivity
Failed connection attempts on previously working channels

SIEM Query:

source="kernel" AND "mac80211" AND ("invalid channel" OR "WARNING")

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2025-71227

CVSS v3 Score: N/A (Unknown)

Published: February 18, 2026

Last Updated: February 18, 2026

🔗 References

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