CVE-2026-46187 wifi: rsi: fix kthread lifetime race between self-exit and external-stop
A race condition in the Linux kernel RSI WiFi driver allows a use-after-free, potentially enabling local attackers to execute code or escalate privileges.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-46187?
CVE-2026-46187 is a medium-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 28 May 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
wifi: rsi: fix kthread lifetime race between self-exit and external-stop
RSI driver use both self-exit(kthread_complete_and_exit) and external-stop (kthread_stop) when killing a kthread. Generally, kthread_stop() is called first, and in this case, no particular issues occur.
However, in rare instances where kthread_complete_and_exit() is called first and then kthread_stop() is called, a UAF occurs because the kthread object, which has already exited and been freed, is accessed again.
Therefore, to prevent this with minimal modification, you must remove kthread_stop() and change the code to wait until the self-exit operation is completed.
Weakness: CWE-362
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-46187?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2026-46187?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2026-46187 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-46187 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as AZL-88905, BELL-CVE-2026-46187, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-46187, GHSA-qcf3-qg3w-g99p, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2026-46187, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2026-46187 and 3 more.