CVE-2026-68363

Kernel crash via asynchronous firmware request race

Published Aug 10, 2026 · Updated Aug 10, 2026

Use-after-free in the ath9k_htc USB Wi-Fi driver in Linux allows attackers to crash the kernel during firmware failure and device disconnect. The ath9k_hif_request_firmware function re-arms an asynchronous firmware request, then reads hif_dev after a failure callback can release disconnect to free it. The documented trigger requires USB-gadget connect/disconnect control, missing device firmware, and a widened sub-microsecond timing window under KASAN.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the ath9k_htc USB Wi-Fi driver in Linux allows attackers to crash the kernel during firmware failure and device disconnect. The ath9k_hif_request_firmware function re-arms an asynchronous firmware request, then reads hif_dev after a failure callback can release disconnect to free it. The documented trigger requires USB-gadget connect/disconnect control, missing device firmware, and a widened sub-microsecond timing window under KASAN.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-68363
Published
Aug 10, 2026
Updated
Aug 10, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 10, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=4.4
  2. Affected versionversion=e904cf6fe23022cde4e0ea9d41601411a315a3dc <10b0ce629123a3737b4eda50188f73bb7be7b68b
  3. Affected versionversion=e904cf6fe23022cde4e0ea9d41601411a315a3dc <48a69cedde7388294e4ea6fd804156cd62bc04fc
  4. Affected versionversion=e904cf6fe23022cde4e0ea9d41601411a315a3dc <7c9046d92c4b9789c9d9d775e4fd5f34be64cb0a
  5. Affected versionversion=e904cf6fe23022cde4e0ea9d41601411a315a3dc <7f184ca38a90889f3f6665ff96748b95da39dbee
  6. Affected versionversion=e904cf6fe23022cde4e0ea9d41601411a315a3dc <dad9f96945d77ecd4708f730c06ef54dcd8cc057

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.4; version=e904cf6fe23022cde4e0ea9d41601411a315a3dc <10b0ce629123a3737b4eda50188f73bb7be7b68b; version=e904cf6fe23022cde4e0ea9d41601411a315a3dc <48a69cedde7388294e4ea6fd804156cd62bc04fc; version=e904cf6fe23022cde4e0ea9d41601411a315a3dc <7c9046d92c4b9789c9d9d775e4fd5f34be64cb0a; version=e904cf6fe23022cde4e0ea9d41601411a315a3dc <7f184ca38a90889f3f6665ff96748b95da39dbee; version=e904cf6fe23022cde4e0ea9d41601411a315a3dc <dad9f96945d77ecd4708f730c06ef54dcd8cc057

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

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.

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No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

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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