CVE-2026-98333Public exploit

Active timer free via failed Wi-Fi startup

Published Oct 6, 2026 · Updated Oct 6, 2026

A mac80211 Wi-Fi interface-start failure in Linux Kernel leaves an active LED timer that can be freed during device teardown. The interface-up error path leaves the radio LED enabled after a throughput-trigger timer starts, so ieee80211_led_exit can free a still-active timer. The observed failure requires a Wi-Fi interface-start error followed by hardware removal; the published reproducer shows a kernel object-debug warning, not confirmed code execution or a remote trigger.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.16%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A mac80211 Wi-Fi interface-start failure in Linux Kernel leaves an active LED timer that can be freed during device teardown. The interface-up error path leaves the radio LED enabled after a throughput-trigger timer starts, so ieee80211_led_exit can free a still-active timer. The observed failure requires a Wi-Fi interface-start error followed by hardware removal; the published reproducer shows a kernel object-debug warning, not confirmed code execution or a remote trigger.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-98333
Published
Oct 6, 2026
Updated
Oct 6, 2026
Vendor
Linux Foundation
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
Unavailable
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=2.6.38
  2. Affected versionversion=67408c8c7b9daf28b50e33be3541334c07d15789 <78183e8331958fda11cd2b6850bb424a9747c4b2
  3. Affected versionversion=67408c8c7b9daf28b50e33be3541334c07d15789 <de6f9561db572df86d65c05545eb2397313bb8a5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorUnavailable in this record.
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Linux Foundation · Linux Kernelversion=2.6.38; version=67408c8c7b9daf28b50e33be3541334c07d15789 <78183e8331958fda11cd2b6850bb424a9747c4b2; version=67408c8c7b9daf28b50e33be3541334c07d15789 <de6f9561db572df86d65c05545eb2397313bb8a5

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.

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No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

Public exploit references

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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