CVE-2026-90398

Kernel memory corruption via ath11k stride mismatch

Published Sep 17, 2026 · Updated Sep 18, 2026

Heap out-of-bounds write in Linux allows attackers controlling ath11k device firmware to corrupt host kernel memory during driver startup. ath11k_wmi_tlv_mac_phy_caps_parse() allocates mac_phy_caps using a firmware-clamped TLV length, but memcpy() advances by full-structure strides and writes later slots past the allocation. The device firmware is the sole input source during startup or crash recovery; successful exploitation permits kernel-memory disclosure or modification and an oops or panic without user interaction.

CVSS severity8.4
High
EPSS probability0.14%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap out-of-bounds write in Linux allows attackers controlling ath11k device firmware to corrupt host kernel memory during driver startup. ath11k_wmi_tlv_mac_phy_caps_parse() allocates mac_phy_caps using a firmware-clamped TLV length, but memcpy() advances by full-structure strides and writes later slots past the allocation. The device firmware is the sole input source during startup or crash recovery; successful exploitation permits kernel-memory disclosure or modification and an oops or panic without user interaction.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-90398
Published
Sep 17, 2026
Updated
Sep 18, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 17, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 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=5.6
  2. Affected versionversion=5b90fc760db5a969ed26d70f8e62c91915f012bd <75185e2b214e842b7e0af29e5d1fef155662b8b1
  3. Affected versionversion=5b90fc760db5a969ed26d70f8e62c91915f012bd <7a246c72132eb943b5844ba79dad597b47429dba
  4. Affected versionversion=5b90fc760db5a969ed26d70f8e62c91915f012bd <acff2713c3212ade15051e7b421f15c89927e70f
  5. Affected versionversion=5b90fc760db5a969ed26d70f8e62c91915f012bd <bbb3b3334a9ed850c5b332eedea107796e691237

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.6; version=5b90fc760db5a969ed26d70f8e62c91915f012bd <75185e2b214e842b7e0af29e5d1fef155662b8b1; version=5b90fc760db5a969ed26d70f8e62c91915f012bd <7a246c72132eb943b5844ba79dad597b47429dba; version=5b90fc760db5a969ed26d70f8e62c91915f012bd <acff2713c3212ade15051e7b421f15c89927e70f; version=5b90fc760db5a969ed26d70f8e62c91915f012bd <bbb3b3334a9ed850c5b332eedea107796e691237

Published CVSS scores

5.1Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H
8.4Linux CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/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.

Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.

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

No observations available

Sep 22, 2026Sep 28, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 28, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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