CVE-2026-23396: wifi: mac80211: fix NULL deref in mesh_matches_local()

Published Mar 26, 2026
·
Updated

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

wifi: mac80211: fix NULL deref in meshmatcheslocal()

meshmatcheslocal() unconditionally dereferences ie->meshconfig to compare mesh configuration parameters. When called from meshrxcsaframe(), the parsed action-frame elements may not contain a Mesh Configuration IE, leaving ie->meshconfig NULL and triggering a kernel NULL pointer dereference.

The other two callers are already safe: - ieee80211meshrxbcnpresp() checks !elems->meshconfig before calling meshmatcheslocal() - meshplinkgetevent() is only reached through meshprocessplinkframe(), which checks !elems->meshconfig, too

meshrxcsaframe() is the only caller that passes raw parsed elements to meshmatcheslocal() without guarding meshconfig. An adjacent attacker can exploit this by sending a crafted CSA action frame that includes a valid Mesh ID IE but omits the Mesh Configuration IE, crashing the kernel.

The captured crash log:

Oops: general protection fault, probably for non-canonical address ... KASAN: null-ptr-deref in range [0x0000000000000000-0x0000000000000007] Workqueue: eventsunbound cfg80211wiphywork [...] Call Trace: <TASK> ? pfxmeshmatcheslocal (net/mac80211/mesh.c:65) ieee80211meshrxqueuedmgmt (net/mac80211/mesh.c:1686) [...] ieee80211ifacework (net/mac80211/iface.c:1754 net/mac80211/iface.c:1802) [...] cfg80211wiphywork (net/wireless/core.c:426) processonework (net/kernel/workqueue.c:3280) ? assignwork (net/kernel/workqueue.c:1219) workerthread (net/kernel/workqueue.c:3352) ? pfxworkerthread (net/kernel/workqueue.c:3385) kthread (net/kernel/kthread.c:436) [...] retfromforkasm (net/arch/x86/entry/entry64.S:255) </TASK>

This patch adds a NULL check for ie->meshconfig at the top of meshmatcheslocal() to return false early when the Mesh Configuration IE is absent.

Affected Software

17 affected componentsFixes available
Linux Linux kernel (mac80211)
Microsoft azl3 kernel 6.6.126.1-1
Linux Linux kernel>=2.6.26.1<5.10.253
Linux Linux kernel>=5.11<5.15.203
Linux Linux kernel>=5.16<6.1.167
Linux Linux kernel>=6.2<6.6.130
Linux Linux kernel>=6.7<6.12.78
Linux Linux kernel>=6.13<6.18.20
Linux Linux kernel>=6.19<6.19.10
Linux Linux kernel=2.6.26
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc1
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc2
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc3
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc4
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc5
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc6
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc7

Event History

Mar 26, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·10:22 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·10:22 AM
Description
Data Sourced
via NVD·11:16 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Mar 27, 2026
Data Sourced
via Microsoft·08:03 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Updated
via Microsoft·08:03 AM
DescriptionSeverity

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-23396?

CVE-2026-23396 has been classified with a high severity due to the potential for NULL dereference issues.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-23396?

To fix CVE-2026-23396, update your Linux kernel to the latest stable version where this vulnerability has been patched.

3

What is the impact of CVE-2026-23396?

The impact of CVE-2026-23396 may lead to application crashes or system instability when processing certain mesh configurations.

4

Which versions of the Linux kernel are affected by CVE-2026-23396?

CVE-2026-23396 affects specific versions of the Linux kernel that include the mac80211 subsystem but exact affected versions should be checked with the latest security advisories.

5

Is CVE-2026-23396 remotely exploitable?

CVE-2026-23396 is not remotely exploitable as it requires local access to the affected system to trigger the vulnerability.

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