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CVE-2026-98326

Linux: wifi: mac80211: mesh: release the channel if start fails

Linux LinuxOperating systems
Open in ThreatlineRecord JSON
CVSS
NoneNot scored
ExploitationNo known exploitationNot in CISA KEV, which does not prove it is unexploitedCISA KEV
Exploit odds (EPSS)0.18%Chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 7% of CVEs. Scored 23 Oct 2026FIRST EPSS
Fixed in632f7acfe6dac1278a9314eaaab14fada400ddafAlso 41bee71112db53651ba9a9030de1b843255a4a7f, 4a4e3fa77ea36d3419d806fb5883ef425a605a5dCVE List
Published6 Oct 2026Updated 19 Oct 2026CVE List

What fixes it

  • 632f7acfe6dac1278a9314eaaab14fada400ddafLinuxCVE List
  • 41bee71112db53651ba9a9030de1b843255a4a7fLinuxCVE List
  • 4a4e3fa77ea36d3419d806fb5883ef425a605a5dLinuxCVE List

A fixed version on one release line is not the upgrade target for every line. Check your exact version and any vendor backports.

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

wifi: mac80211: mesh: release the channel if start fails

ieee80211_join_mesh() acquires a channel context and then calls ieee80211_start_mesh(), which can fail. In that case, the chanctx isn't released then interface removal will attempt to unassign it after it's removed from the driver, hitting:

wlan0: Failed check-sdata-in-driver check, flags: 0x0 WARNING: net/mac80211/driver-ops.c:366 at drv_unassign_vif_chanctx ieee80211_assign_link_chanctx __ieee80211_link_release_channel ieee80211_link_release_channel ieee80211_teardown_sdata unregister_netdevice_many_notify _cfg80211_unregister_wdev ieee80211_remove_interfaces ieee80211_unregister_hw mac80211_hwsim_del_radio hwsim_exit_net

Correctly release the channel on start failures.

Text from CVE List

Affected versions 14

  • Linuxaffected: 2b5e19677592c167d012c2d129407f39d2bdeb8d before f0afcec2129c166e61821d6ae097061155f01b12CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 2b5e19677592c167d012c2d129407f39d2bdeb8d before b51f5a310bd6888b90bb9546a8081215dcfe6fbeCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 2b5e19677592c167d012c2d129407f39d2bdeb8d before 632f7acfe6dac1278a9314eaaab14fada400ddafCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 2b5e19677592c167d012c2d129407f39d2bdeb8d before 41bee71112db53651ba9a9030de1b843255a4a7fCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 2b5e19677592c167d012c2d129407f39d2bdeb8d before 4a4e3fa77ea36d3419d806fb5883ef425a605a5dCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 2b5e19677592c167d012c2d129407f39d2bdeb8d before ae97fff6495a8764bc0ef281cfe5444f701e527fCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 3.9CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: all versions before 3.9CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.1.189 through 6.1.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.6.158 through 6.6.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.12.112 through 6.12.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.18.54 through 6.18.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.2.8 through 7.2.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.3CVE List

References 6