CVE-2026-97541 wifi: ath9k_htc: don't store usb_device_id
A use-after-free vulnerability in the ath9k_htc USB Wi-Fi driver allows local attackers to cause a system crash or potentially execute code.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-97541?
CVE-2026-97541 is an use after free vulnerability in Linux, published on 25 Sep 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: ath9k_htc: don't store usb_device_id
usb_device_id is not guaranteed to live longer than probe due to presence of dynamic ID. All information apart from driver_data can be easily retrieved from usb_device, so just store driver_data.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-97541?
How do I fix CVE-2026-97541?
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-2026-97541 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-97541 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-104490, BELL-CVE-2026-97541, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-97541, GHSA-fc43-5vgp-h862, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97541.