How to fix CVE-2025-21979?

Within 7 days: Identify all affected systems and apply vendor patches promptly. If patching is delayed, consider network segmentation to limit exposure.

Is Use After Free affected by CVE-2025-21979?

CVE-2025-21979 presents notable security risk, a use-after-free vulnerability rated CVSS 7.8. Exploitation could compromise the security of affected deployments. A patch is available and should be applied as part of regular vulnerability management.

CVE-2025-21979

HIGH

2025-04-01 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

7.8

CVSS 3.1

CVSS Vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Lifecycle Timeline

Analysis Generated

Mar 28, 2026 - 18:34 vuln.today

Patch Released

Mar 28, 2026 - 18:34 nvd

Patch available

CVE Published

Apr 01, 2025 - 16:15 nvd

HIGH 7.8

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.

Analysis

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. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. This Use After Free vulnerability could allow attackers to access freed memory to execute arbitrary code or crash the application.

Technical Context

This vulnerability is classified as Use After Free (CWE-416), which allows attackers to access freed memory to execute arbitrary code or crash the application. 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. Affected products include: Linux Linux Kernel.

Affected Products

Linux Linux Kernel.

Remediation

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Use smart pointers or garbage-collected languages. Set pointers to NULL after freeing. Enable memory sanitizers.

Priority Score

Low Medium High Critical

KEV: 0

EPSS: +0.1

CVSS: +39

POC: 0

Vendor Status

CVE-2025-21979 vulnerability details – vuln.today

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CVE-2025-21979

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Technical Context

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CVE-2025-21979

CVSS Vector

Lifecycle Timeline

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Description

Analysis

Technical Context

Affected Products

Remediation

Priority Score

Vendor Status

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External POC / Exploit Code