Kernel heap overwrite via authentication length truncation
Published Oct 6, 2026 · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Heap buffer overflow in the mwifiex Wi-Fi driver in Linux 6.12 allows local users to overwrite kernel heap memory during authentication. The mwifiex_cfg80211_authenticate() function truncates a combined authentication-frame length to 16 bits before allocating frame space, then copies the untruncated user-supplied authentication data into it. Reaching the path requires CAP_NET_ADMIN in the owning user namespace, an active station interface, and a suitable BSS/SAE authentication request; the record establishes memory corruption but not a specific escalation or code-execution outcome.
Summary
What happened
Heap buffer overflow in the mwifiex Wi-Fi driver in Linux 6.12 allows local users to overwrite kernel heap memory during authentication. The mwifiex_cfg80211_authenticate() function truncates a combined authentication-frame length to 16 bits before allocating frame space, then copies the untruncated user-supplied authentication data into it. Reaching the path requires CAP_NET_ADMIN in the owning user namespace, an active station interface, and a suitable BSS/SAE authentication request; the record establishes memory corruption but not a specific escalation or code-execution outcome.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-98184
- Published
- Oct 6, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 6, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 6, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 6, 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?
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- Affected versionversion=36995892c271cce5e2230bc165a06f109b117222 <25c45a2075cc00faed45f92a64bb172fb074a2ee
- Affected versionversion=36995892c271cce5e2230bc165a06f109b117222 <5747eaa38a7fcad48be2fd910b65008198b2b06c
- Affected versionversion=36995892c271cce5e2230bc165a06f109b117222 <877b61a67d5eb3e616478daf3908114b57feff1e
- Affected versionversion=36995892c271cce5e2230bc165a06f109b117222 <fa00193eb991f92b007aefe7afb6a7566976dacf
- Affected versionversion=6.12
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
No CVSS assessment is available in this record.
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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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
No sourced classifications are available.
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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