CVE-2025-21979

wifi: cfg80211: cancel wiphy_work before freeing wiphy

Published Apr 1, 2025 CVSS 3.1 · 7.8 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

wifi: cfg80211: cancel wiphy_work before freeing wiphy

A wiphy_work can be queued from the moment the wiphy is allocated and
initialized (i.e. wiphy_new_nm). When a wiphy_work is queued, the
rdev::wiphy_work is getting queued.

If wiphy_free is called before the rdev::wiphy_work had a chance to run,
the wiphy memory will be freed, and then when it eventally gets to run
it'll use invalid memory.

Fix this by canceling the work before freeing the wiphy.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4193-1 linux-6.1 security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-5900-1 linux security update
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2025-9341 In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: cfg80211: cancel wiphy_work before freeing wiphy A wiphy_work can be queued from the moment the wiphy is allocated and initialized (i.e. wiphy_new_nm). When a wiphy_work is queued, the rdev::wiphy_work is getting queued. If wiphy_free is called before the rdev::wiphy_work had a chance to run, the wiphy memory will be freed, and then when it eventally gets to run it'll use invalid memory. Fix this by canceling the work before freeing the wiphy.
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7605-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7605-2 Linux kernel (Low Latency) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7606-1 Linux kernel (OEM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7628-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7764-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7764-2 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7765-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7766-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7767-1 Linux kernel (Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7767-2 Linux kernel (Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7779-1 Linux kernel (IBM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7790-1 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7800-1 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7801-1 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7802-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7801-2 Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7809-1 Linux kernel (Azure, N-Series) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7801-3 Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10.0
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics threat_severity

Low

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Weaknesses CWE-416
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.14:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.14:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.14:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.14:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.14:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.14:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Low

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: cfg80211: cancel wiphy_work before freeing wiphy A wiphy_work can be queued from the moment the wiphy is allocated and initialized (i.e. wiphy_new_nm). When a wiphy_work is queued, the rdev::wiphy_work is getting queued. If wiphy_free is called before the rdev::wiphy_work had a chance to run, the wiphy memory will be freed, and then when it eventally gets to run it'll use invalid memory. Fix this by canceling the work before freeing the wiphy.
Title wifi: cfg80211: cancel wiphy_work before freeing wiphy
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Aug 5, 2026, 11:55 AM
Reserved
Dec 29, 2024, 8:45 AM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Apr 1, 2025, 4:15 PM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 8:44 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Apr 1, 2025, 12:00 AM