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CVE-2026-98334

Linux: wifi: mac80211: reset state when starting AP 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 6% of CVEs. Scored 23 Oct 2026FIRST EPSS
Fixed in5d5ff5b36f5748a2a077f875a73ccb26860d3fccAlso 6eac225f59c1c2277ac74f8a716d6df0ba3b8d28, 3f28551d0241254a75626d868041c6340285088bCVE List
Published6 Oct 2026Updated 19 Oct 2026CVE List

What fixes it

  • 5d5ff5b36f5748a2a077f875a73ccb26860d3fccLinuxCVE List
  • 6eac225f59c1c2277ac74f8a716d6df0ba3b8d28LinuxCVE List
  • 3f28551d0241254a75626d868041c6340285088bLinuxCVE 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: reset state when starting AP fails

ieee80211_start_ap() can set enable_beacon (and beacon_int) and fail later, leaving it set forever. Scanning can then attempt to restore beaconing on such an interface, leading to:

Oops: divide error: 0000 [#1] SMP KASAN NOPTI RIP: 0010:mac80211_hwsim_link_info_changed+0xca7/0xf00 Call Trace: drv_link_info_changed+0x413/0x860 net/mac80211/driver-ops.c:495 ieee80211_link_info_change_notify+0x24b/0x3c0 net/mac80211/main.c:427 ieee80211_offchannel_return+0x381/0x580 net/mac80211/offchannel.c:160 __ieee80211_scan_completed+0x993/0xe30 net/mac80211/scan.c:519 ieee80211_scan_work+0x472/0x2010 net/mac80211/scan.c:1193 cfg80211_wiphy_work+0x2b7/0x550 net/wireless/core.c:538

in hwsim. Also, cfg80211 then allows changing the interface type, and the off-channel path getgs confused about beaconing as well, leading to another warning:

WARNING: net/mac80211/driver-ops.c:468 at drv_link_info_changed+0x583/0x880 ieee80211_link_info_change_notify+0x24b/0x3c0 net/mac80211/main.c:427 ieee80211_offchannel_stop_vifs+0x328/0x5c0 net/mac80211/offchannel.c:122 ieee80211_start_sw_scan net/mac80211/scan.c:583 [inline] __ieee80211_start_scan+0xfb6/0x1af0 net/mac80211/scan.c:882

Reset the state on failures to always have it correct.

Text from CVE List

Affected versions 10

  • Linuxaffected: d6a83228823fc0cc8d79d95c9f0bf568b7317862 before d83da43e9b3b3b1bad99ac5a1065f1c63ad5fc32CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: d6a83228823fc0cc8d79d95c9f0bf568b7317862 before 5d5ff5b36f5748a2a077f875a73ccb26860d3fccCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: d6a83228823fc0cc8d79d95c9f0bf568b7317862 before 6eac225f59c1c2277ac74f8a716d6df0ba3b8d28CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: d6a83228823fc0cc8d79d95c9f0bf568b7317862 before 3f28551d0241254a75626d868041c6340285088bCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 3.9CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: all versions before 3.9CVE 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 4