Path-limit bypass via uncharged proxy-path removal
Published Oct 18, 2026 · Updated Oct 18, 2026
Quota-accounting errors in Linux mac80211 allow attackers to exceed the mesh path limit through repeated proxy-path removal. In net/mac80211/mesh_pathtbl.c, mpp_path_add() installs proxy paths without charging the shared counter, but mesh_path_free_rcu() decrements it when those paths expire or are removed, allowing subsequent mesh_path_add() calls past the 1024-entry budget. Exposure requires mac80211 mesh operation and proxy-path churn; received address-extension mesh data reaches the affected addition function in simulation, but a crash or code execution is not demonstrated.
Summary
What happened
Quota-accounting errors in Linux mac80211 allow attackers to exceed the mesh path limit through repeated proxy-path removal. In net/mac80211/mesh_pathtbl.c, mpp_path_add() installs proxy paths without charging the shared counter, but mesh_path_free_rcu() decrements it when those paths expire or are removed, allowing subsequent mesh_path_add() calls past the 1024-entry budget. Exposure requires mac80211 mesh operation and proxy-path churn; received address-extension mesh data reaches the affected addition function in simulation, but a crash or code execution is not demonstrated.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-98705
- Published
- Oct 18, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 18, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- adjacent
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 18, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=3.2
- Affected versionversion=ece1a2e7e86078c8379937b546e32cb7f25fcb6c <3b75831ceee76d32bb8e7ddd241904f92f9b5407
- Affected versionversion=ece1a2e7e86078c8379937b546e32cb7f25fcb6c <5a32409ed34a1868830899a5d2437f0b3bf3532c
- Affected versionversion=ece1a2e7e86078c8379937b546e32cb7f25fcb6c <a5f35d4b112af1415ff06bd501c8cc26cc08aa8b
- Affected versionversion=ece1a2e7e86078c8379937b546e32cb7f25fcb6c <df072db65fdaa34ad15e1d66fc06a53e3e97f778
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.
Weakness, pattern, technique
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
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