CVE-2026-98331

Kernel BUG via stale mac80211 interface entry

Published Oct 6, 2026 · Updated Oct 6, 2026

An interface-lifecycle flaw in Linux 2.6.32 allows attackers to trigger a kernel BUG via Wi-Fi network-namespace teardown. mac80211 removes virtual interfaces from local->interfaces during its normal removal path but leaves one listed when its net device is unregistered independently. The failure requires an affected mac80211 interface, destruction of its wiphy's network namespace, and an allocation failure during the move to the initial namespace; no network-only trigger is documented.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.13%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

An interface-lifecycle flaw in Linux 2.6.32 allows attackers to trigger a kernel BUG via Wi-Fi network-namespace teardown. mac80211 removes virtual interfaces from local->interfaces during its normal removal path but leaves one listed when its net device is unregistered independently. The failure requires an affected mac80211 interface, destruction of its wiphy's network namespace, and an allocation failure during the move to the initial namespace; no network-only trigger is documented.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-98331
Published
Oct 6, 2026
Updated
Oct 6, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

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=2.6.32
  2. Affected versionversion=463d018323851a608eef52a9427b0585005c647f <20a56e96a6f7b4dfbd13f8732fd2673409fc7ba0
  3. Affected versionversion=463d018323851a608eef52a9427b0585005c647f <821bab0456dfca12acef6df702c8f2477d313227
  4. Affected versionversion=463d018323851a608eef52a9427b0585005c647f <a22c02863439993095acd0c3db97fa53cd515f4f
  5. Affected versionversion=463d018323851a608eef52a9427b0585005c647f <b735ad1a9aca6080192c1316cf2706e5e1318762
  6. Affected versionversion=463d018323851a608eef52a9427b0585005c647f <d45bf731ec7085d2cc2c5d179d3b3b6c743d4fb1
  7. Affected versionversion=463d018323851a608eef52a9427b0585005c647f <eee2efd82867b623982ac51925b5a1812a74c50d

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2.6.32; version=463d018323851a608eef52a9427b0585005c647f <20a56e96a6f7b4dfbd13f8732fd2673409fc7ba0; version=463d018323851a608eef52a9427b0585005c647f <821bab0456dfca12acef6df702c8f2477d313227; version=463d018323851a608eef52a9427b0585005c647f <a22c02863439993095acd0c3db97fa53cd515f4f; version=463d018323851a608eef52a9427b0585005c647f <b735ad1a9aca6080192c1316cf2706e5e1318762; version=463d018323851a608eef52a9427b0585005c647f <d45bf731ec7085d2cc2c5d179d3b3b6c743d4fb1; version=463d018323851a608eef52a9427b0585005c647f <eee2efd82867b623982ac51925b5a1812a74c50d

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)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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