CVE-2026-98194 wifi: libertas_tf: fix UAF in lbtf_free_adapter()
A use-after-free in the Linux libertas_tf Wi-Fi driver allows attackers to cause denial of service or execute code via race conditions during adapter removal.
- 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-2026-98194?
CVE-2026-98194 is an use after free vulnerability in Linux, published on 6 Oct 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: libertas_tf: fix UAF in lbtf_free_adapter()
lbtf_free_adapter() calls lbtf_free_cmd_buffer() to free the command buffers before calling timer_delete_sync() to wait for the command timer callback. If the timer callback (command_timer_fn) is already running when lbtf_free_cmd_buffer() frees the command array, the callback dereferences priv->cur_cmd->cmdbuf which points to freed memory.
Swap the order so that timer_delete_sync() runs first, ensuring any in-flight callback has completed before the command buffers are freed.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-98194?
How do I fix CVE-2026-98194?
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-2026-98194 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-98194 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-105978, BELL-CVE-2026-98194, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98194, GHSA-h7cr-x88p-mw28, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-98194.