CVE-2026-98186

Out-of-bounds kernel read via unchecked cipher count

Published Oct 6, 2026 · Updated Oct 6, 2026

Linux mwifiex scan parsing allows physically proximate attackers to trigger an out-of-bounds kernel read with crafted AP beacons. The mwifiex_search_oui_in_ie() function trusts the pairwise-cipher count in an RSN or WPA element and compares that many four-byte entries without checking the element length. Exposure requires an affected Linux kernel using the mwifiex Wi-Fi driver to process the malicious AP's beacon or probe response; the published record does not establish data disclosure or a crash.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.18%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Linux mwifiex scan parsing allows physically proximate attackers to trigger an out-of-bounds kernel read with crafted AP beacons. The mwifiex_search_oui_in_ie() function trusts the pairwise-cipher count in an RSN or WPA element and compares that many four-byte entries without checking the element length. Exposure requires an affected Linux kernel using the mwifiex Wi-Fi driver to process the malicious AP's beacon or probe response; the published record does not establish data disclosure or a crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-98186
Published
Oct 6, 2026
Updated
Oct 6, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 6, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=3.0
  2. Affected versionversion=5e6e3a92b9a4c9416b17f468fa5c7fa2233b8b4e <2402c9e2644b7e10c7aaaf87bf12743d7e363559
  3. Affected versionversion=5e6e3a92b9a4c9416b17f468fa5c7fa2233b8b4e <46cda9d42f0d6ec3057d878ddb1f38c0ab9f51df
  4. Affected versionversion=5e6e3a92b9a4c9416b17f468fa5c7fa2233b8b4e <54a9cc5bd70b0d77a5069d4c46998c679a10c857
  5. Affected versionversion=5e6e3a92b9a4c9416b17f468fa5c7fa2233b8b4e <58767b41f87244eebaa5a475b9d276c83b89b933
  6. Affected versionversion=5e6e3a92b9a4c9416b17f468fa5c7fa2233b8b4e <77e642af7f2f6029e12a35c847c56cbd0466e799
  7. Affected versionversion=5e6e3a92b9a4c9416b17f468fa5c7fa2233b8b4e <8bbef2b1ebfbadc0b9c37bbbf9c9e26fe2e41960
  8. Affected versionversion=5e6e3a92b9a4c9416b17f468fa5c7fa2233b8b4e <982b8fcdbb28f63bbbf02f0822c0bbda12ec27ed
  9. Affected versionversion=5e6e3a92b9a4c9416b17f468fa5c7fa2233b8b4e <e667aee1c192d67d27c803007bfa9c6e0873e959

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3.0; version=5e6e3a92b9a4c9416b17f468fa5c7fa2233b8b4e <2402c9e2644b7e10c7aaaf87bf12743d7e363559; version=5e6e3a92b9a4c9416b17f468fa5c7fa2233b8b4e <46cda9d42f0d6ec3057d878ddb1f38c0ab9f51df; version=5e6e3a92b9a4c9416b17f468fa5c7fa2233b8b4e <54a9cc5bd70b0d77a5069d4c46998c679a10c857; version=5e6e3a92b9a4c9416b17f468fa5c7fa2233b8b4e <58767b41f87244eebaa5a475b9d276c83b89b933; version=5e6e3a92b9a4c9416b17f468fa5c7fa2233b8b4e <77e642af7f2f6029e12a35c847c56cbd0466e799; version=5e6e3a92b9a4c9416b17f468fa5c7fa2233b8b4e <8bbef2b1ebfbadc0b9c37bbbf9c9e26fe2e41960; version=5e6e3a92b9a4c9416b17f468fa5c7fa2233b8b4e <982b8fcdbb28f63bbbf02f0822c0bbda12ec27ed; version=5e6e3a92b9a4c9416b17f468fa5c7fa2233b8b4e <e667aee1c192d67d27c803007bfa9c6e0873e959

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.

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)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
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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