Linux kernel mac80211 timer runs on freed memory after teardown
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 mac80211 Wi-Fi stack is affected from 2.6.36 before the fixed releases. When an RX block ack session is torn down, its session timer can stay queued on a freed tid_rx, so later timer processing and the timer callback run against freed memory. A stale RX BAR handler can rearm the timer after teardown has deleted it.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-30
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mac80211: shut down RX BA session timer on teardown Tearing down an RX BA session can leave the session timer queued on a freed tid_rx. Later timer-wheel processing and the timer callback itself then run against freed memory. An RX BAR handler can dereference tid_rx under RCU before teardown unpublishes it and stay in its read-side critical section while teardown deletes the session timer. The stale handler can then rearm the timer after timer_delete_sync() returns and before the RCU callback frees tid_rx. Use timer_shutdown_sync() so rearm attempts become ineffective once teardown starts. Keep reorder_timer unchanged: teardown marks the session removed under reorder_lock and its release path checks that state before rearming. session_timer has no equivalent guard because ieee80211_rx_h_ctrl() rearms it before taking reorder_lock.
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 5.15.224, 6.1.191, 6.6.160, 6.12.113, 6.18.56, 7.2.10 or 7.3. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 has no fix planned, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, 8, 9 and 10 and Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 and 5 have no fix available.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-30
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.15.224, 6.1.191, 6.6.160, 6.12.113, 6.18.56, 7.2.10, 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
- 2026-10-18 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98707
- 2026-10-18 Alias added: GHSA-8mvq-3rmc-c8vm
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-10-21 Fix available: Linux/[email protected], Linux/Linux@d0da6ab1fc53a68025929baf0947519c6c1684dc · CNA
- 2026-10-21 1 new reference · CNA
- 2026-10-23 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-23 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-30 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-30 Fix available: Linux/Linux@18cf74311f3f0bc77384549d270c489f64c6510a, Linux/Linux@225c67a0bea0bd42f568f4842e747bb7f4bafebb, Linux/[email protected] +1 · CNA
- 2026-10-30 2 new references · CNA
References
Other 7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/225c67a0bea0bd42f568f4842e747bb7f4bafebb
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/18cf74311f3f0bc77384549d270c489f64c6510a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d0da6ab1fc53a68025929baf0947519c6c1684dc
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7bb2a5bd4f07192fca35644fab7d49a17bfbc861
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/481f9230284c27052b59c587069f232c5d84779e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/09b7d5e4f88504e62ddf4ff31ebeebb3b87578ba
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e588e83e5c7a0f6d7a77dbbb58927c8c8cfd598e
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98707 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98707 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-8mvq-3rmc-c8vm · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98707 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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