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CVE-2025-71273 Linux CVE debrief

A MEDIUM severity vulnerability was discovered in the Linux kernel, tracked as CVE-2025-71273. The issue was resolved by using device managed memory allocations with devm_kmemdup() in rtw_set_supported_band(). This change also fixes a memory leak in rtw_register_hw(), where supported bands were not freed in the error path. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 5.5.

Vendor
Linux
Product
Unknown
CVSS
MEDIUM 5.5
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2026-05-06
Original CVE updated
2026-06-05
Advisory published
2026-05-06
Advisory updated
2026-06-05

Who should care

Users of the Linux kernel, particularly those using versions prior to the patched versions, should be aware of this vulnerability. The affected versions include Linux kernel versions from 5.2 to 6.12.75, 6.13 to 6.18.16, and 6.19 to 6.19.6.

Technical summary

The vulnerability is caused by a memory leak in the rtw_register_hw() function, which was not properly freeing supported bands in the error path. The fix involves using devm_kmemdup() in rtw_set_supported_band() to simplify the code and prevent the memory leak.

Defensive priority

MEDIUM

Recommended defensive actions

  • Apply the patches provided by the Linux kernel maintainers, available at: [ref-4], [ref-5], [ref-6], [ref-7]

Evidence notes

The CVE record and details can be found at: [cve-org]. The NVD detail page is available at: [nvd].

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2025-71273 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-71273

    CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.

  • CVE-2025-71273 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-71273

    NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.

Supplemental references

  • Mitigation or vendor reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1bd90e0a99fdc8dc5deb3c92bf865e4496b4b311

    416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 - Patch

  • Mitigation or vendor reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2ba12401cc1f2d970fa2e7d5b15abde3f5abd40d

    416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 - Patch

  • Mitigation or vendor reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9b5418070ee8468fac9e8bf641c83d46b85bff30

    416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 - Patch

  • Mitigation or vendor reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ad9b80ee310ed734482a2e5da874b67f88ac0ef8

    416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 - Patch

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.