CVE-2026-64574: wifi: mac80211: tear down new links on vif update error path
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
wifi: mac80211: tear down new links on vif update error path
When ieee80211vifupdatelinks() adds new links it allocates a link container for each and calls ieee80211linkinit() (which registers the per-link debugfs files with file->privatedata pointing into the container) and ieee80211linksetup(). If the subsequent drvchangeviflinks() fails, the error path restores the old pointers and jumps to 'free', which frees the new containers but never removes their debugfs entries or stops the links. The debugfs files survive with file->privatedata dangling at the freed container, so a later open()+read() (e.g. link-1/txpower) dereferences freed memory in ieee80211ifreadlink(), a use-after-free.
The removal path already dismantles links correctly via ieee80211teardownlinks(), which removes each link's keys and debugfs entries and calls ieee80211linkstop(); the add path on the error branch does not. Commit be1ba9ed221f ("wifi: mac80211: avoid weird state in error path") hardened this same error path for the link-removal case (newlinks == 0) but left the newly-added links' teardown unaddressed.
drvchangeviflinks() can fail at runtime on MLO drivers (internal allocation / queue / firmware command failures).
Remove the new links' debugfs entries and stop them before freeing.
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in ieee80211ifreadlink (net/mac80211/debugfsnetdev.c:127) Read of size 8 at addr ffff888011290000 by task exploit/145 Call Trace: ... ieee80211ifreadlink (net/mac80211/debugfsnetdev.c:127) shortproxyread (fs/debugfs/file.c:373) vfsread (fs/readwrite.c:572) ksysread (fs/readwrite.c:716) dosyscall64 (arch/x86/entry/syscall64.c:94) entrySYSCALL64afterhwframe (arch/x86/entry/entry64.S:121) ... Oops: general protection fault, probably for non-canonical address 0xdffffc000000000a RIP: 0010:ieee80211ifreadlink (net/mac80211/debugfsnetdev.c:127) Kernel panic - not syncing: Fatal exception
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Compensating control
Remove the newly-added per-link debugfs entries and stop those links before freeing, because otherwise debugfs files can survive with file->private_data dangling and a later open()+read() in ieee80211_if_read_link() can dereference freed memory (use-after-free).
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-64574?
CVE-2026-64574 has a risk score of 34, indicating a moderate vulnerability in the Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2026-64574?
To fix CVE-2026-64574, update the Linux kernel to the latest version that includes the patch for this vulnerability.
What systems are affected by CVE-2026-64574?
CVE-2026-64574 affects various distributions of the Linux kernel that utilize the mac80211 subsystem.
What kind of vulnerability is CVE-2026-64574?
CVE-2026-64574 is classified as a Use After Free vulnerability affecting the handling of link updates in the Linux kernel.
Is CVE-2026-64574 actively exploited in the wild?
As of the latest information, there is no indication that CVE-2026-64574 is actively exploited in the wild.