CVE-2026-64574 Details
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mac80211: tear down new links on vif update error path When ieee80211_vif_update_links() adds new links it allocates a link container for each and calls ieee80211_link_init() (which registers the per-link debugfs files with file->private_data pointing into the container) and ieee80211_link_setup(). If the subsequent drv_change_vif_links() fails, the error path restores the old pointers and jumps to 'free', which frees the new containers but never removes their debugfs entries or stops the links. The debugfs files survive with file->private_data dangling at the freed container, so a later open()+read() (e.g. link-1/txpower) dereferences freed memory in ieee80211_if_read_link(), a use-after-free. The removal path already dismantles links correctly via ieee80211_tear_down_links(), which removes each link's keys and debugfs entries and calls ieee80211_link_stop(); the add path on the error branch does not. Commit be1ba9ed221f ("wifi: mac80211: avoid weird state in error path") hardened this same error path for the link-removal case (new_links == 0) but left the newly-added links' teardown unaddressed. drv_change_vif_links() can fail at runtime on MLO drivers (internal allocation / queue / firmware command failures). Remove the new links' debugfs entries and stop them before freeing. BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in ieee80211_if_read_link (net/mac80211/debugfs_netdev.c:127) Read of size 8 at addr ffff888011290000 by task exploit/145 Call Trace: ... ieee80211_if_read_link (net/mac80211/debugfs_netdev.c:127) short_proxy_read (fs/debugfs/file.c:373) vfs_read (fs/read_write.c:572) ksys_read (fs/read_write.c:716) do_syscall_64 (arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94) entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe (arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:121) ... Oops: general protection fault, probably for non-canonical address 0xdffffc000000000a RIP: 0010:ieee80211_if_read_link (net/mac80211/debugfs_netdev.c:127) Kernel panic - not syncing: Fatal exception
A use-after-free vulnerability has been identified in the Linux kernel's Wi-Fi mac80211 subsystem. This issue arises during the management of virtual interface links. When new links are added, the system allocates a link container and registers per-link debugfs files. However, if an error occurs later in the process, the new containers are freed without properly removing the associated debugfs entries or stopping the links. This oversight leaves a dangling pointer, which can be exploited by later operations that read the debugfs files, leading to a dereference of freed memory and a potential kernel panic. The vulnerability can be triggered by certain drivers that manage multiple links, where the link update process can fail at runtime due to internal allocation or firmware command issues.
The vulnerability has been addressed in the Linux kernel. Users should upgrade to the latest version where this issue has been fixed.
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CVSS 4.0 Severity and Vector Strings:
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CVSS 3.x Severity and Vector Strings:
No data available for CVSS Version 2.0 on this CVE.
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Change History
3 change records found show changes
| Date | Action | Recorded By |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 2026 | CVE Modified | kernel.org |
| Aug 8, 2026 | CVE Modified | kernel.org |
| Aug 5, 2026 | New CVE Received | kernel.org |