CVE-2026-23130: wifi: ath12k: fix dead lock while flushing management frames

Published Feb 14, 2026
·
Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

wifi: ath12k: fix dead lock while flushing management frames

Commit [1] converted the management transmission work item into a wiphy work. Since a wiphy work can only run under wiphy lock protection, a race condition happens in below scenario:

1. a management frame is queued for transmission. 2. ath12kmacopflush() gets called to flush pending frames associated with the hardware (i.e, vif being NULL). Then in ath12kmacflush() the process waits for the transmission done. 3. Since wiphy lock has been taken by the flush process, the transmission work item has no chance to run, hence the dead lock.

From user view, this dead lock results in below issue:

wlp8s0: authenticate with xxxxxx (local address=xxxxxx) wlp8s0: send auth to xxxxxx (try 1/3) wlp8s0: authenticate with xxxxxx (local address=xxxxxx) wlp8s0: send auth to xxxxxx (try 1/3) wlp8s0: authenticated wlp8s0: associate with xxxxxx (try 1/3) wlp8s0: aborting association with xxxxxx by local choice (Reason: 3=DEAUTHLEAVING) ath12kpci 0000:08:00.0: failed to flush mgmt transmit queue, mgmt pkts pending 1

The dead lock can be avoided by invoking wiphyworkflush() to proactively run the queued work item. Note actually it is already present in ath12kmacopflush(), however it does not protect the case where vif being NULL. Hence move it ahead to cover this case as well.

Tested-on: WCN7850 hw2.0 PCI WLAN.HMT.1.1.c5-00302-QCAHMTSWPLV1.0V2.0SILICONZ-1.115823.3

Affected Software

8 affected components
Linux Linux kernel
Linux Linux kernel>=6.14<6.18.8
Linux Linux kernel=6.19-rc1
Linux Linux kernel=6.19-rc2
Linux Linux kernel=6.19-rc3
Linux Linux kernel=6.19-rc4
Linux Linux kernel=6.19-rc5
Linux Linux kernel=6.19-rc6

Event History

Feb 14, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·03:09 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·03:09 PM
Description
Data Sourced
via NVD·03:16 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203