In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
wifi: ath10k: avoid NULL pointer error during sdio remove
When running 'rmmod ath10k', ath10k_sdio_remove() will free sdio
workqueue by destroy_workqueue(). But if CONFIG_INIT_ON_FREE_DEFAULT_ON
is set to yes, kernel panic will happen:
Call trace:
destroy_workqueue+0x1c/0x258
ath10k_sdio_remove+0x84/0x94
sdio_bus_remove+0x50/0x16c
device_release_driver_internal+0x188/0x25c
device_driver_detach+0x20/0x2c
This is because during 'rmmod ath10k', ath10k_sdio_remove() will call
ath10k_core_destroy() before destroy_workqueue(). wiphy_dev_release()
will finally be called in ath10k_core_destroy(). This function will free
struct cfg80211_registered_device *rdev and all its members, including
wiphy, dev and the pointer of sdio workqueue. Then the pointer of sdio
workqueue will be set to NULL due to CONFIG_INIT_ON_FREE_DEFAULT_ON.
After device release, destroy_workqueue() will use NULL pointer then the
kernel panic happen.
Call trace:
ath10k_sdio_remove
->ath10k_core_unregister
……
->ath10k_core_stop
->ath10k_hif_stop
->ath10k_sdio_irq_disable
->ath10k_hif_power_down
->del_timer_sync(&ar_sdio->sleep_timer)
->ath10k_core_destroy
->ath10k_mac_destroy
->ieee80211_free_hw
->wiphy_free
……
->wiphy_dev_release
->destroy_workqueue
Need to call destroy_workqueue() before ath10k_core_destroy(), free
the work queue buffer first and then free pointer of work queue by
ath10k_core_destroy(). This order matches the error path order in
ath10k_sdio_probe().
No work will be queued on sdio workqueue between it is destroyed and
ath10k_core_destroy() is called. Based on the call_stack above, the
reason is:
Only ath10k_sdio_sleep_timer_handler(), ath10k_sdio_hif_tx_sg() and
ath10k_sdio_irq_disable() will queue work on sdio workqueue.
Sleep timer will be deleted before ath10k_core_destroy() in
ath10k_hif_power_down().
ath10k_sdio_irq_disable() only be called in ath10k_hif_stop().
ath10k_core_unregister() will call ath10k_hif_power_down() to stop hif
bus, so ath10k_sdio_hif_tx_sg() won't be called anymore.
Tested-on: QCA6174 hw3.2 SDIO WLAN.RMH.4.4.1-00189
What the EG score is made of (scorer v4.0: the three questions the 0–10 score mixes, published apart · methodology)
The EG score (5.5): severity, escalated by confirmed exploitation. This CVE's 5.5 is its impact severity (EG Severity), not escalated.
- EG Severity
- 5.5 MEDIUMCVSS-B, impact only: no KEV listing, EPSS or EG-KEV tier raises it.GitHub Security Advisory CVSS
- EG Likelihood
- 0.2% within 30 daysSource: FIRST EPSS (model v2026.06.15, score date 2026-10-25). FIRST's exploitation probability, not an EchelonGraph model.
- Confirmed exploitation
- None on record (CISA KEV, EG-KEV Tier 1)Reported apart from the likelihood: an observed fact, not a probability.
- EG Priority
- SSVC Track at medium mission impactTrack at low or medium mission impact; Track* at high (mission-essential systems).CISA BOD 26-04: 14 days if the affected system is publicly exposed; Fix on system upgrade if it is not.Each input and its source, and whom BOD 26-04 binds: the SSVC and BOD 26-04 blocks below.
SSVC (CISA's decision table, applied by EchelonGraph)Track at low or medium mission impact; Track* at high (mission-essential systems).
A fix is available. Apply it within your standard update timelines.
Exploitation none (no CISA value, KEV listing or exploit code on record) · Automatable no (CISA's BOD 26-04 default) · Technical impact total (CISA's BOD 26-04 default). EchelonGraph holds no SSVC assessment of this CVE from CISA: none of these inputs is from Vulnrichment. EchelonGraph applied CISA's decision table to them; CISA publishes SSVC inputs and the table, not a decision for each CVE. Mission impact is CISA's Mission & Well-being decision point, and only you can judge it. CISA's table makes it high when Mission Prevalence is Essential — the vulnerable component "directly provides capabilities that constitute at least one MEF for at least one entity" (MEF: mission essential function) — or when Public Well-Being Impact is Irreversible: "multiple fatalities are likely", the cyber-physical system "is likely lost or destroyed", "extreme or serious externalities" are imposed on other parties, or social systems such as elections or the financial grid "are destabilized and potentially collapse". CISA's decision table
BOD 26-04 (CISA's remediation timeline, Table 1)14 days if the affected system is publicly exposed; Fix on system upgrade if it is not.
The score's inputs: In CISA KEV no (CISA's KEV catalog) · Automatable no (CISA's BOD 26-04 default) · Technical impact total (CISA's BOD 26-04 default). Where an input reads “CISA's BOD 26-04 default”, no one has published it for this CVE, and CISA's implementation guidance says: “If “Automatable” and “Technical Impact” information items about a CVE ID are not available and the CVE ID is not in the KEV Catalog, CISA will treat its values as “no” and “total,” respectively, until CISA or a third party provides metadata about the CVE ID. CISA will always provide the Vulnrichment data for a CVE ID listed in the KEV Catalog.” Whether your system is publicly exposed is yours to answer. BOD 26-04 binds US Federal Civilian Executive Branch agencies; for anyone else it is CISA's published timeline, a reference rather than an obligation. The directive · how EchelonGraph applies it