Linux kernel mac80211 leaves LED timer running after failed ifup
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: 7 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Linux kernel from 2.6.38 is affected, and the flaw is fixed in 7.2.8 and 7.3. In the mac80211 subsystem, the radio LED is turned on when the first interface comes up but is not reset when that bring-up fails. The TPT LED trigger timer then keeps running and can be freed while still active, which the kernel reports as a debug object warning.
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: mac80211: reset the LED state when ifup fails When the first interface comes up, the radio LED is turned on. This can start the TPT trigger timer, which continues running. But if bringing up the interface fails then the timer keeps running and won't be stopped by anything, eventually it can be freed: ODEBUG: free active (active state 0) object: ffff888127e12130 object type: timer_list hint: tpt_trig_timer+0x0/0x300 net/mac80211/led.c:145 WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 5923 at lib/debugobjects.c:612 debug_print_object+0x1a2/0x2b0 debug_check_no_obj_freed+0x4b7/0x600 lib/debugobjects.c:1129 kfree+0x436/0x670 mm/slub.c:6818 ieee80211_led_exit+0x162/0x1c0 net/mac80211/led.c:210 ieee80211_unregister_hw+0x27e/0x3a0 net/mac80211/main.c:1706 rt2x00lib_remove_dev+0x55b/0x670 Undo the LED state in the error path.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Upgrade the Linux kernel to 7.2.8 or 7.3. Red Hat lists Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 with no fix planned, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, 8, 9, 10 and 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 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 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| 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 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-06 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98333
- 2026-10-06 Alias added: GHSA-57gv-8xf9-89mj
- 2026-10-10 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-10 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-10-23 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-23 CVSS score changed · Red Hat
- 2026-11-06 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
More Linux vulnerabilities
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98333 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98333 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-57gv-8xf9-89mj · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98333 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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