CVE-2025-71234

Kernel memory corruption via undersized station allocation

Published Feb 18, 2026 · Updated Feb 18, 2026

Out-of-bounds write in the Linux kernel rtl8xxxu Wi-Fi driver allows physically proximate attackers to corrupt kernel memory. The driver leaves hw->sta_data_size unset, so mac80211 underallocates sta->drv_priv before rtl8xxxu_sta_add writes per-station fields. Exposure requires an affected kernel with the rtl8xxxu driver handling station setup; the overwrite corrupts kernel memory.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.17%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds write in the Linux kernel rtl8xxxu Wi-Fi driver allows physically proximate attackers to corrupt kernel memory. The driver leaves hw->sta_data_size unset, so mac80211 underallocates sta->drv_priv before rtl8xxxu_sta_add writes per-station fields. Exposure requires an affected kernel with the rtl8xxxu driver handling station setup; the overwrite corrupts kernel memory.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-71234
Published
Feb 18, 2026
Updated
Feb 18, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-787
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 18, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <116f7bd8160c6b37d1c6939385abf90f6f6ed2f5
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <5d810ba377eddee95d30766d360a14efbb3d1872
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9a0f3fa6ecd0c9c32dbc367a57482bbf7c7d25bf

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <116f7bd8160c6b37d1c6939385abf90f6f6ed2f5; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <5d810ba377eddee95d30766d360a14efbb3d1872; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9a0f3fa6ecd0c9c32dbc367a57482bbf7c7d25bf

Published CVSS scores

8.8kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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