CVE-2026-98936: wifi: ath11k: reset ar->num_stations on hardware start

Published Oct 23, 2026
·
Updated

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

wifi: ath11k: reset ar->numstations on hardware start

When (multiple) hw restart occurs, we end up in a situation where we cannot accept new stations / mesh peers. This seems to be the 'numstations' in 'struct ath11k' that did not get reset properly in this case. In ath11kmacopstart(), it was indeed the only accounting var that did not get reset so let's clear it too.

This avoids problems like those:

[1248828.088023] WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 12281 at net/mac80211/util.c:1682 ieee80211reconfigstations+0x98/0xc0 [1248828.088115] Call trace: [1248828.088116] ieee80211reconfigstations+0x98/0xc0 (P) [1248828.088119] ieee80211reconfig+0x774/0x1438 [1248828.088123] ieee80211restartwork+0x10c/0x178 [1248828.088127] processonework+0x178/0x3c0 [1248828.088130] workerthread+0x280/0x440 [1248828.088133] kthread+0xe0/0xf8 [1248828.088137] retfromfork+0x10/0x20 [1248828.088141] ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- [1248836.686604] ath11kpci 0000:04:00.0: refusing to associate station: too many connected already (128) [1248836.686609] ath11kpci 0000:04:00.0: Failed to add station: xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx for VDEV: 1

Tested-on: QCN9074 hw1.0 PCI WLAN.HK.2.9.0.1-01977-QCAHKSWPLSILICONZ-1

Affected Software

214 affected componentsFixes available
Linux Linux kernel
debian/linux*
debian/linux<6.12.113-1
6.12.113-1
debian/linux<7.2.10-1
7.2.10-1
debian/linux<=6.1.176-1, <=6.1.190-1, <=6.12.107-1
6.12.115-27.2.12-17.2.15-1
linux/kernel>=5.6.0<5.10.273
5.10.273
linux/kernel>=5.11.0<5.15.224
5.15.224
linux/kernel>=5.16.0<6.1.191
6.1.191
linux/kernel>=6.2.0<6.6.160
6.6.160
linux/kernel>=6.7.0<6.12.113
6.12.113
linux/kernel>=6.13.0<6.18.56
6.18.56
linux/kernel>=6.19.0<7.2.10
7.2.10
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-hwe*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-oem*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-gke*
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-raspi2*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*
ubuntu/linux*
ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8<6.8.0-1069.74~22.04.1
6.8.0-1069.74~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8<6.8.0-1073.82~22.04.1
6.8.0-1073.82~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8<6.8.0-1071.78~22.04.1
6.8.0-1071.78~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8<6.8.0-1073.81~22.04.1
6.8.0-1073.81~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gke*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-ibm*
ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8<6.8.0-1069.70~22.04.1
6.8.0-1069.70~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg*
ubuntu/linux-kvm*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8<6.8.0-149.149.1~22.04.1
6.8.0-149.149.1~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-nvidia*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-igx*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-oracle*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8<6.8.0-1067.71~22.04.1
6.8.0-1067.71~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-raspi*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8<6.8.0-149.149~22.04.2
6.8.0-149.149~22.04.2
ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp*
ubuntu/linux-bluefield*
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8<6.8.1-1064.65~22.04.1
6.8.1-1064.65~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux<6.8.0-149.149
6.8.0-149.149
ubuntu/linux-aws<6.8.0-1069.74
6.8.0-1069.74
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-aws-7.0<7.0.0-1017.18~24.04.1
7.0.0-1017.18~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure<6.8.0-1073.82
6.8.0-1073.82
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-azure-7.0*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-7.0<7.0.0-1019.19~24.04.1
7.0.0-1019.19~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia*
ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-gcp<6.8.0-1073.81
6.8.0-1073.81
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-7.0<7.0.0-1017.19~24.04.1
7.0.0-1017.19~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gke<6.8.0-1068.77
6.8.0-1068.77
ubuntu/linux-gkeop<6.8.0-1053.57
6.8.0-1053.57
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0*
ubuntu/linux-ibm<6.8.0-1069.70
6.8.0-1069.70
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<6.8.0-149.149.1
6.8.0-149.149.1
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia<6.8.0-1067.70
6.8.0-1067.70
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-7.0*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-oracle<6.8.0-1067.71
6.8.0-1067.71
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-7.0<7.0.0-1016.18~24.04.1
7.0.0-1016.18~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-raspi<6.8.0-1068.72
6.8.0-1068.72
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0<7.0.0-43.43.1~24.04.2
7.0.0-43.43.1~24.04.2
ubuntu/linux-vmware<6.8.0-1010.10
6.8.0-1010.10
ubuntu/linux-xilinx*
ubuntu/linux-bluefield<6.8.0-1036.41
6.8.0-1036.41
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime<6.8.0-2056.58
6.8.0-2056.58
ubuntu/linux-realtime<6.8.1-1064.65
6.8.1-1064.65
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<6.8.0-1069.74+fips1
6.8.0-1069.74+fips1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<6.8.0-1073.82+fips1
6.8.0-1073.82+fips1
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<6.8.0-1073.81+fips1
6.8.0-1073.81+fips1
ubuntu/linux<7.0.0-43.43
7.0.0-43.43
ubuntu/linux-aws<7.0.0-1017.18
7.0.0-1017.18
ubuntu/linux-azure<7.0.0-1020.21
7.0.0-1020.21
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<7.0.0-1019.19
7.0.0-1019.19
ubuntu/linux-gcp<7.0.0-1017.19
7.0.0-1017.19
ubuntu/linux-gke<7.0.0-1010.11
7.0.0-1010.11
ubuntu/linux-ibm<7.0.0-1018.18
7.0.0-1018.18
ubuntu/linux-nvidia*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-bos*
ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0<7.0.0-1018.18
7.0.0-1018.18
ubuntu/linux-oracle<7.0.0-1016.18
7.0.0-1016.18
ubuntu/linux-raspi*
ubuntu/linux-realtime<7.0.0-43.43.1
7.0.0-43.43.1
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-vmware*

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.12.113-1
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.2.10-1
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.12.115-2Fixed in 7.2.12-1Fixed in 7.2.15-1
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.10.273
  5. Upgrade

    Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.224
  6. Upgrade

    Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.1.191
  7. Upgrade

    Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.6.160
  8. Upgrade

    Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.12.113
  9. Upgrade

    Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.18.56
  10. Upgrade

    Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.2.10
  11. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.74~22.04.1
  12. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1073.82~22.04.1
  13. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.78~22.04.1
  14. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1073.81~22.04.1
  15. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.70~22.04.1
  16. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-149.149.1~22.04.1
  17. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.71~22.04.1
  18. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-149.149~22.04.2
  19. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.1-1064.65~22.04.1
  20. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-149.149
  21. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.74
  22. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.18~24.04.1
  23. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1073.82
  24. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1019.19~24.04.1
  25. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1073.81
  26. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.19~24.04.1
  27. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1068.77
  28. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1053.57
  29. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.70
  30. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-149.149.1
  31. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.70
  32. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.71
  33. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.18~24.04.1
  34. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1068.72
  35. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-43.43.1~24.04.2
  36. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-vmware to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1010.10
  37. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1036.41
  38. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-2056.58
  39. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.1-1064.65
  40. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.74+fips1
  41. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1073.82+fips1
  42. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1073.81+fips1
  43. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-43.43
  44. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.18
  45. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1020.21
  46. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1019.19
  47. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.19
  48. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1010.11
  49. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1018.18
  50. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1018.18
  51. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.18
  52. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-43.43.1
  53. Compensating control

    In the ath11k driver, reset ar->num_stations to 0 in ath11k_mac_op_start() during hardware start, including after hardware restarts.

Event History

Oct 23, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·12:11 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·12:11 PM
Description
Data Sourced
via OSV·12:11 PM
DescriptionAffected Software
Data Sourced
via NVD·01:17 PM
Description
Oct 24, 2026
Data Sourced
via Microsoft·08:08 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Nov 11, 2026
Data Sourced
via OSV·09:43 AM
Severity

Frequently Asked Questions

1

Which systems are affected in practice?

Systems using the Linux kernel ath11k Wi-Fi driver are affected when they undergo multiple hardware restarts. The observed impact is that the driver may refuse new station or mesh-peer associations after restarts.

2

What conditions lead to the failure?

The condition occurs after multiple hardware restarts because the ath11k driver's station-count accounting is not reset on hardware start. The stale count can reach the configured maximum, with the example showing refusal at 128 connected stations.

3

How can an administrator recognize the issue?

Kernel logs may show a warning in ieee80211_reconfig_stations during restart handling, followed by ath11k messages such as "refusing to associate station: too many connected already" and "Failed to add station."

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