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CVE-2026-74366 (GCVE-0-2026-74366)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-08-15 05:58 – Updated: 2026-08-17 05:18
VLAI
Title
wifi: ath12k: fix NULL deref in change_sta_links for unready link
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath12k: fix NULL deref in change_sta_links for unready link _ieee80211_set_active_links() calls _ieee80211_link_use_channel() for each newly-added link and WARN_ON_ONCE()s if it fails. The call uses assign_on_failure=true, which allows mac80211 to continue despite driver failures, but when a mac80211-level channel validation fails (e.g., combinations check, DFS, or no available radio), drv_assign_vif_chanctx() is never reached. Since ath12k_mac_vdev_create() is only called from that path, arvif->is_created remains false and arvif->ar remains NULL for the failed link. The subsequent drv_change_sta_links() call reaches ath12k_mac_op_change_sta_links(), which allocates an arsta and sets ahsta->links_map |= BIT(link_id) for the broken link before checking whether the link is ready. When the vdev was never created, only station_add() is skipped, but the link remains in links_map. Any subsequent operation iterating links_map and dereferencing arvif->ar without a NULL check will crash. Two observed examples are NULL deref in ath12k_mac_ml_station_remove() on disconnect and in ath12k_mac_op_set_key() when wpa_supplicant installs PTK keys. BUG: Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at 0x00000000 pc : ath12k_mac_station_post_remove+0x40/0xe8 [ath12k] Call trace: ath12k_mac_station_post_remove+0x40/0xe8 [ath12k] ath12k_mac_op_sta_state+0xb60/0x1720 [ath12k] drv_sta_state+0x100/0xbd8 [mac80211] __sta_info_destroy_part2+0x148/0x178 [mac80211] ieee80211_set_disassoc+0x500/0x678 [mac80211] BUG: Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at 0x00000000 pc : ath12k_mac_op_set_key+0x1f8/0x2c0 [ath12k] Call trace: ath12k_mac_op_set_key+0x1f8/0x2c0 [ath12k] drv_set_key+0x70/0x100 [mac80211] ieee80211_key_enable_hw_accel+0x78/0x260 [mac80211] ieee80211_add_key+0x16c/0x2ac [mac80211] nl80211_new_key+0x138/0x280 [cfg80211] Fix this by checking arvif->is_created before calling ath12k_mac_alloc_assign_link_sta(). This prevents the broken link from entering links_map, so all subsequent operations iterating the bitmap are protected. The reliability of arvif->is_created across all error paths is ensured by the preceding patch. Tested-on: WCN7850 hw2.0 PCI WLAN.HMT.1.1.c5-00302-QCAHMTSWPL_V1.0_V2.0_SILICONZ-1.115823.3
Severity
No CVSS data available.
Assigner
References
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version CPE status
Linux Linux Affected: a27fa6148dacc79451e523c2694bc0a673b1be05 , < cfcea221db933295bf2cd75a7f80d441c7a51e28 (git)
Affected: a27fa6148dacc79451e523c2694bc0a673b1be05 , < 5f5be2aa3b6d730c51dd4f8b432f2ad72823e63f (git)
Affected: a27fa6148dacc79451e523c2694bc0a673b1be05 , < 47809a7c8348bc4a332ccc26a37c7145a5f609f8 (git)
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Linux Linux Affected: 6.14
Unaffected: 0 , < 6.14 (semver)
Unaffected: 6.18.40 , ≤ 6.18.* (semver)
Unaffected: 7.1.5 , ≤ 7.1.* (semver)
Unaffected: 7.2 , ≤ * (original_commit_for_fix)
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{
  "containers": {
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected",
          "product": "Linux",
          "programFiles": [
            "drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/mac.c"
          ],
          "repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
          "vendor": "Linux",
          "versions": [
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              "status": "affected",
              "version": "a27fa6148dacc79451e523c2694bc0a673b1be05",
              "versionType": "git"
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          "vendor": "Linux",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "6.14"
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            {
              "lessThan": "6.14",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "0",
              "versionType": "semver"
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              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "6.18.40",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
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              "version": "7.1.5",
              "versionType": "semver"
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              "versionType": "original_commit_for_fix"
            }
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        }
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      "cpeApplicability": [
        {
          "nodes": [
            {
              "cpeMatch": [
                {
                  "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                  "versionEndExcluding": "6.18.40",
                  "versionStartIncluding": "6.14",
                  "vulnerable": true
                },
                {
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                }
              ],
              "negate": false,
              "operator": "OR"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nwifi: ath12k: fix NULL deref in change_sta_links for unready link\n\n_ieee80211_set_active_links() calls _ieee80211_link_use_channel() for\neach newly-added link and WARN_ON_ONCE()s if it fails. The call uses\nassign_on_failure=true, which allows mac80211 to continue despite\ndriver failures, but when a mac80211-level channel validation fails\n(e.g., combinations check, DFS, or no available radio),\ndrv_assign_vif_chanctx() is never reached. Since ath12k_mac_vdev_create()\nis only called from that path, arvif-\u003eis_created remains false and\narvif-\u003ear remains NULL for the failed link.\n\nThe subsequent drv_change_sta_links() call reaches\nath12k_mac_op_change_sta_links(), which allocates an arsta and sets\nahsta-\u003elinks_map |= BIT(link_id) for the broken link before checking\nwhether the link is ready. When the vdev was never created, only\nstation_add() is skipped, but the link remains in links_map.\n\nAny subsequent operation iterating links_map and dereferencing arvif-\u003ear\nwithout a NULL check will crash. Two observed examples are NULL deref in\nath12k_mac_ml_station_remove() on disconnect and in ath12k_mac_op_set_key()\nwhen wpa_supplicant installs PTK keys.\n\n  BUG: Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at 0x00000000\n  pc : ath12k_mac_station_post_remove+0x40/0xe8 [ath12k]\n  Call trace:\n   ath12k_mac_station_post_remove+0x40/0xe8 [ath12k]\n   ath12k_mac_op_sta_state+0xb60/0x1720 [ath12k]\n   drv_sta_state+0x100/0xbd8 [mac80211]\n   __sta_info_destroy_part2+0x148/0x178 [mac80211]\n   ieee80211_set_disassoc+0x500/0x678 [mac80211]\n\n  BUG: Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at 0x00000000\n  pc : ath12k_mac_op_set_key+0x1f8/0x2c0 [ath12k]\n  Call trace:\n   ath12k_mac_op_set_key+0x1f8/0x2c0 [ath12k]\n   drv_set_key+0x70/0x100 [mac80211]\n   ieee80211_key_enable_hw_accel+0x78/0x260 [mac80211]\n   ieee80211_add_key+0x16c/0x2ac [mac80211]\n   nl80211_new_key+0x138/0x280 [cfg80211]\n\nFix this by checking arvif-\u003eis_created before calling\nath12k_mac_alloc_assign_link_sta(). This prevents the broken link from\nentering links_map, so all subsequent operations iterating the bitmap\nare protected. The reliability of arvif-\u003eis_created across all error\npaths is ensured by the preceding patch.\n\nTested-on: WCN7850 hw2.0 PCI WLAN.HMT.1.1.c5-00302-QCAHMTSWPL_V1.0_V2.0_SILICONZ-1.115823.3"
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-08-17T05:18:01.222Z",
        "orgId": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
        "shortName": "Linux"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cfcea221db933295bf2cd75a7f80d441c7a51e28"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5f5be2aa3b6d730c51dd4f8b432f2ad72823e63f"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/47809a7c8348bc4a332ccc26a37c7145a5f609f8"
        }
      ],
      "title": "wifi: ath12k: fix NULL deref in change_sta_links for unready link",
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    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
    "assignerShortName": "Linux",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-74366",
    "datePublished": "2026-08-15T05:58:48.264Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-08-15T05:44:03.888Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-08-17T05:18:01.222Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2",
  "vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
    "epss": {
      "cve": "CVE-2026-74366",
      "date": "2026-09-05",
      "epss": "0.00166",
      "percentile": "0.06133"
    },
    "nvd": "{\"cve\":{\"id\":\"CVE-2026-74366\",\"sourceIdentifier\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"published\":\"2026-08-15T06:22:38.287\",\"lastModified\":\"2026-08-17T06:19:31.440\",\"vulnStatus\":\"Received\",\"cveTags\":[],\"descriptions\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\\n\\nwifi: ath12k: fix NULL deref in change_sta_links for unready link\\n\\n_ieee80211_set_active_links() calls _ieee80211_link_use_channel() for\\neach newly-added link and WARN_ON_ONCE()s if it fails. The call uses\\nassign_on_failure=true, which allows mac80211 to continue despite\\ndriver failures, but when a mac80211-level channel validation fails\\n(e.g., combinations check, DFS, or no available radio),\\ndrv_assign_vif_chanctx() is never reached. Since ath12k_mac_vdev_create()\\nis only called from that path, arvif-\u003eis_created remains false and\\narvif-\u003ear remains NULL for the failed link.\\n\\nThe subsequent drv_change_sta_links() call reaches\\nath12k_mac_op_change_sta_links(), which allocates an arsta and sets\\nahsta-\u003elinks_map |= BIT(link_id) for the broken link before checking\\nwhether the link is ready. When the vdev was never created, only\\nstation_add() is skipped, but the link remains in links_map.\\n\\nAny subsequent operation iterating links_map and dereferencing arvif-\u003ear\\nwithout a NULL check will crash. Two observed examples are NULL deref in\\nath12k_mac_ml_station_remove() on disconnect and in ath12k_mac_op_set_key()\\nwhen wpa_supplicant installs PTK keys.\\n\\n  BUG: Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at 0x00000000\\n  pc : ath12k_mac_station_post_remove+0x40/0xe8 [ath12k]\\n  Call trace:\\n   ath12k_mac_station_post_remove+0x40/0xe8 [ath12k]\\n   ath12k_mac_op_sta_state+0xb60/0x1720 [ath12k]\\n   drv_sta_state+0x100/0xbd8 [mac80211]\\n   __sta_info_destroy_part2+0x148/0x178 [mac80211]\\n   ieee80211_set_disassoc+0x500/0x678 [mac80211]\\n\\n  BUG: Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at 0x00000000\\n  pc : ath12k_mac_op_set_key+0x1f8/0x2c0 [ath12k]\\n  Call trace:\\n   ath12k_mac_op_set_key+0x1f8/0x2c0 [ath12k]\\n   drv_set_key+0x70/0x100 [mac80211]\\n   ieee80211_key_enable_hw_accel+0x78/0x260 [mac80211]\\n   ieee80211_add_key+0x16c/0x2ac [mac80211]\\n   nl80211_new_key+0x138/0x280 [cfg80211]\\n\\nFix this by checking arvif-\u003eis_created before calling\\nath12k_mac_alloc_assign_link_sta(). This prevents the broken link from\\nentering links_map, so all subsequent operations iterating the bitmap\\nare protected. The reliability of arvif-\u003eis_created across all error\\npaths is ensured by the preceding patch.\\n\\nTested-on: WCN7850 hw2.0 PCI WLAN.HMT.1.1.c5-00302-QCAHMTSWPL_V1.0_V2.0_SILICONZ-1.115823.3\"}],\"affected\":[{\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"affectedData\":[{\"vendor\":\"Linux\",\"product\":\"Linux\",\"defaultStatus\":\"unaffected\",\"programFiles\":[\"drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/mac.c\"],\"repo\":\"https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git\",\"versions\":[{\"version\":\"a27fa6148dacc79451e523c2694bc0a673b1be05\",\"lessThan\":\"cfcea221db933295bf2cd75a7f80d441c7a51e28\",\"versionType\":\"git\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"a27fa6148dacc79451e523c2694bc0a673b1be05\",\"lessThan\":\"5f5be2aa3b6d730c51dd4f8b432f2ad72823e63f\",\"versionType\":\"git\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"a27fa6148dacc79451e523c2694bc0a673b1be05\",\"lessThan\":\"47809a7c8348bc4a332ccc26a37c7145a5f609f8\",\"versionType\":\"git\",\"status\":\"affected\"}]},{\"vendor\":\"Linux\",\"product\":\"Linux\",\"defaultStatus\":\"affected\",\"programFiles\":[\"drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/mac.c\"],\"repo\":\"https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git\",\"versions\":[{\"version\":\"6.14\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"0\",\"lessThan\":\"6.14\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"},{\"version\":\"6.18.40\",\"lessThanOrEqual\":\"6.18.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"},{\"version\":\"7.1.5\",\"lessThanOrEqual\":\"7.1.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"},{\"version\":\"7.2\",\"lessThanOrEqual\":\"*\",\"versionType\":\"original_commit_for_fix\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"}]}]}],\"metrics\":{},\"references\":[{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/47809a7c8348bc4a332ccc26a37c7145a5f609f8\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\"},{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5f5be2aa3b6d730c51dd4f8b432f2ad72823e63f\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\"},{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cfcea221db933295bf2cd75a7f80d441c7a51e28\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\"}]}}",
    "redhat_vex": {
      "aggregate_severity": "Moderate",
      "current_release_date": "2026-08-20T20:53:21+00:00",
      "cve": "CVE-2026-74366",
      "id": "CVE-2026-74366",
      "initial_release_date": "2026-08-15T00:00:00+00:00",
      "product_status:known_affected": "184",
      "product_status:known_not_affected": "90",
      "source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "kernel: wifi: ath12k: fix NULL deref in change_sta_links for unready link",
      "url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-74366.json",
      "version": "3"
    }
  }
}



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Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.

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  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
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  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.


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