CVE-2026-98823 wifi: cfg80211: preserve hidden-group beacon IE ownership
A use-after-free in the Linux kernel WiFi subsystem allows attackers to cause denial of service or execute code via crafted beacon frames.
- 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-2026-98823?
CVE-2026-98823 is an use after free vulnerability in Linux, published on 18 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: cfg80211: preserve hidden-group beacon IE ownership
A hidden-group probe-response entry borrows its beacon IEs from the group's beacon entry. cfg80211_update_assoc_bss_entry() can pass such an entry to cfg80211_update_known_bss() when merging scan entries after a channel switch.
Copying the borrowed beacon_ies into the associated entry gives the same allocation two owners. Releasing the group's beacon entry can then leave the associated entry pointing to freed IEs, which are freed again when that entry is released.
Skip beacon IE replacement when the source entry belongs to a hidden group. Preserve probe-response processing, the subsequent metadata updates, and the existing rejection path for conflicting hidden beacon updates.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-98823?
How do I fix CVE-2026-98823?
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-2026-98823 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-98823 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-109386, BELL-CVE-2026-98823, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98823, GHSA-xw2r-79g3-4r47, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-98823.