Missing size checks in Linux kernel mwifiex scan response handling
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
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- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 6 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The mwifiex Wi-Fi driver in the Linux kernel is affected from 3.0 before the fixed versions. The scan response handler mwifiex_ret_802_11_scan() subtracts the fixed response fields and the firmware-provided BSS length from the response size without first checking that they fit. A short response or oversized BSS length can underflow the TLV buffer size, so the TLV parser reads beyond the command response.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mwifiex: validate scan response extents mwifiex_ret_802_11_scan() subtracts the fixed response fields and the firmware-provided BSS length from resp->size without first proving that either extent fits. A short response or oversized BSS length can therefore underflow tlv_buf_size and make the TLV parser walk beyond the command response. Compute the fixed extent from the selected normal or background scan response. Validate that the fixed fields and BSS data fit before deriving the TLV extent and entering the parser.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Fixed Linux kernel versions are 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.54, 7.2.8 and 7.3. Red Hat lists Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, 8, 9 and 10 and Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 and 5 as affected with no fix available.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.54, 7.2.8, 7.3
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
Timeline
- 2026-10-06 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98185
- 2026-10-06 Alias added: GHSA-wqr3-9qxq-6r7p
- 2026-10-09 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-09 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-16 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-16 CVSS score changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-11-06 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Other 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/25217c5f6ce0bf3004f80c129464cd35fe9a420f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/48312f0085aa1577d6d41af2a079b34de17c1a57
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dccf5ecaad4d8d43c545921f20328e8f91af8698
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c4943323fda22ef27bb6479b9d328ae48c63f64c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cb0008480ed7d5cf76f3ad9668a91bbb7d0b4417
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9cff2f39ed38a32070b08364c4c9346e85b8f9ec
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7106ad8b74f50cca1ef36131f327d2c78f556daa
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3687d7d48070838cc2953431b3a27717cab0aaf6
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- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
Sources
- CVE-2026-98185 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98185 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-wqr3-9qxq-6r7p · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98185 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences