Kernel warning via raced IBSS BSS lookup
Published Oct 6, 2026 · Updated Oct 6, 2026
A race in Linux cfg80211 IBSS handling allows local users to trigger a kernel warning when a scan flushes a BSS entry before a join event runs. The join event retains only the BSSID and channel, then looks up the BSS entry after a concurrent scan can remove it. The reproducer uses local nl80211 control and simulated wireless devices; the published report does not establish a crash, data access, or a remote-only trigger.
Summary
What happened
A race in Linux cfg80211 IBSS handling allows local users to trigger a kernel warning when a scan flushes a BSS entry before a join event runs. The join event retains only the BSSID and channel, then looks up the BSS entry after a concurrent scan can remove it. The reproducer uses local nl80211 control and simulated wireless devices; the published report does not establish a crash, data access, or a remote-only trigger.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-98338
- Published
- Oct 6, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 6, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
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?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=2.6.32
- Affected versionversion=667503ddcb96f3b10211f997fe55907fa7509841 <708f9d43d6a2eb9c6b83fe62af628de9dffd9314
- Affected versionversion=667503ddcb96f3b10211f997fe55907fa7509841 <b0e3f019e461ac42e45aa3ec1216cefaca2f4a8b
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
No sourced classifications are available.
Public exploit references
- Syzkaller C reproducer for the cfg80211 IBSS warningproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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