CVE-2026-53112 wifi: rtlwifi: pci: fix possible use-after-free caused by unfinished irq_prepare_bcn_tasklet
A use-after-free in the rtlwifi PCI driver allows attackers to cause denial of service or execute code when the device is detached.
- 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-2026-53112?
CVE-2026-53112 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 24 Jun 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: rtlwifi: pci: fix possible use-after-free caused by unfinished irq_prepare_bcn_tasklet
The irq_prepare_bcn_tasklet is initialized in rtl_pci_init() and scheduled when RTL_IMR_BCNINT interrupt is triggered by hardware. But it is never killed in rtl_pci_deinit(). When the rtlwifi card probe fails or is being detached, the ieee80211_hw is deallocated. However, irq_prepare_bcn_tasklet may still be running or pending, leading to use-after-free when the freed ieee80211_hw is accessed in _rtl_pci_prepare_bcn_tasklet().
Similar to irq_tasklet, add tasklet_kill() in rtl_pci_deinit() to ensure that irq_prepare_bcn_tasklet is properly terminated before the ieee80211_hw is released.
The issue was identified through static analysis.
Weakness: CWE-416
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-53112?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2026-53112?
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-2026-53112 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-53112 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2026-53112, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-53112, GHSA-j8wh-h47x-6xr8, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2026-53112, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2026-53112, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2204-CVE-2026-53112 and 2 more.