Kernel-memory disclosure via unchecked firmware response length
Published Aug 10, 2026 · Updated Aug 10, 2026
Out-of-bounds read in the Linux kernel carl9170 driver allows local users to disclose kernel memory via a malformed firmware response. The carl9170_cmd_callback() mismatch path restarts the adapter but falls through to memcpy(), trusting a firmware-supplied length beyond ar->readlen. Reachability requires an Atheros AR9170 USB device using carl9170 firmware; the overread can expose memory or destabilize the system.
Summary
What happened
Out-of-bounds read in the Linux kernel carl9170 driver allows local users to disclose kernel memory via a malformed firmware response. The carl9170_cmd_callback() mismatch path restarts the adapter but falls through to memcpy(), trusting a firmware-supplied length beyond ar->readlen. Reachability requires an Atheros AR9170 USB device using carl9170 firmware; the overread can expose memory or destabilize the system.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-68351
- Published
- Aug 10, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 10, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-125
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 10, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 10, 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.
- Affected versionversion=2.6.37
- Affected versionversion=a84fab3cbfdc427e7d366f1cc844f27b2084c26c <4cde55b2feff9504d1f993ab80e84e7ccb62791c
- Affected versionversion=a84fab3cbfdc427e7d366f1cc844f27b2084c26c <500c36649f270de05a56591fcc1aaaa36687958e
- Affected versionversion=a84fab3cbfdc427e7d366f1cc844f27b2084c26c <9aee949c68dc6dccbc54333537b109c53fe2079f
- Affected versionversion=a84fab3cbfdc427e7d366f1cc844f27b2084c26c <cb7a38810cf25738176dac32dec7a146b3f959cf
- Affected versionversion=a84fab3cbfdc427e7d366f1cc844f27b2084c26c <f74e34e66379e487a09009a4f2d42470051672bd
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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