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CVE-2026-74366· NVD / CVE Program· CNA Linux

wifi: ath12k: fix NULL deref in change_sta_links for unready link

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath12k: fix NULL deref in change_sta_links for unready link _ieee80211_set_active_links() calls _ieee80211_link_use_channel() for each newly-added link and WARN_ON_ONCE()s if it fails. The call uses assign_on_failure=true, which allows mac80211 to continue despite driver failures, but when a mac80211-level channel validation fails (e.g., combinations check, DFS, or no available radio), drv_assign_vif_chanctx() is never reached. Since ath12k_mac_vdev_create() is only called from that path, arvif->is_created remains false and arvif->ar remains NULL for the failed link. The subsequent drv_change_sta_links() call reaches ath12k_mac_op_change_sta_links(), which allocates an arsta and sets ahsta->links_map |= BIT(link_id) for the broken link before checking whether the link is ready. When the vdev was never created, only station_add() is skipped, but the link remains in links_map. Any subsequent operation iterating links_map and dereferencing arvif->ar without a NULL check will crash. Two observed examples are NULL deref in ath12k_mac_ml_station_remove() on disconnect and in ath12k_mac_op_set_key() when wpa_supplicant installs PTK keys. BUG: Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at 0x00000000 pc : ath12k_mac_station_post_remove+0x40/0xe8 [ath12k] Call trace: ath12k_mac_station_post_remove+0x40/0xe8 [ath12k] ath12k_mac_op_sta_state+0xb60/0x1720 [ath12k] drv_sta_state+0x100/0xbd8 [mac80211] __sta_info_destroy_part2+0x148/0x178 [mac80211] ieee80211_set_disassoc+0x500/0x678 [mac80211] BUG: Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at 0x00000000 pc : ath12k_mac_op_set_key+0x1f8/0x2c0 [ath12k] Call trace: ath12k_mac_op_set_key+0x1f8/0x2c0 [ath12k] drv_set_key+0x70/0x100 [mac80211] ieee80211_key_enable_hw_accel+0x78/0x260 [mac80211] ieee80211_add_key+0x16c/0x2ac [mac80211] nl80211_new_key+0x138/0x280 [cfg80211] Fix this by checking arvif->is_created before calling ath12k_mac_alloc_assign_link_sta(). This prevents the broken link from entering links_map, so all subsequent operations iterating the bitmap are protected. The reliability of arvif->is_created across all error paths is ensured by the preceding patch. Tested-on: WCN7850 hw2.0 PCI WLAN.HMT.1.1.c5-00302-QCAHMTSWPL_V1.0_V2.0_SILICONZ-1.115823.3

—No exploit Fix available
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 17, 2026
EPSS
0.2% · 10th percentile
CWE
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Low priority for now.

CVSS
0 / 40 · —
CISA KEV
0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS
0 / 30 · 0.2%

Affected systems

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Versions reported by the vendor

Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (Linux). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.

  • Linux Linux

    • 6.14affected
    • a27fa6148dacc79451e523c2694bc0a673b1be05 and later · before cfcea221db933295bf2cd75a7f80d441c7a51e28affected · git
    • a27fa6148dacc79451e523c2694bc0a673b1be05 and later · before 5f5be2aa3b6d730c51dd4f8b432f2ad72823e63faffected · git
    • a27fa6148dacc79451e523c2694bc0a673b1be05 and later · before 47809a7c8348bc4a332ccc26a37c7145a5f609f8affected · git
    • before 6.14not affected · semver
    • 6.18.40 and later · up to and including 6.18.*not affected · semver
    • 7.1.5 and later · up to and including 7.1.*not affected · semver
    • 7.2 and laternot affected · original_commit_for_fix

Package-level exposure

OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
Debian:14linuxbefore 7.1.5-17.1.5-1

Same product

linux: all records

Other highest-scoring records for the same primary product.

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  • CVE-2026-74280crypto: marvell/octeontx - fix DMA cleanup using wrong loop index
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  • CVE-2026-74279crypto: cavium/cpt - fix DMA cleanup using wrong loop index
    40Plan

Remediation

Which version to upgrade to

Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.

Product / packageFixed versionSource
Linux Linux47809a7c8348bc4a332ccc26a37c7145a5f609f8Vendor (CNA)
Linux Linux5f5be2aa3b6d730c51dd4f8b432f2ad72823e63fVendor (CNA)
Linux Linuxcfcea221db933295bf2cd75a7f80d441c7a51e28Vendor (CNA)
debian:linux7.1.5-1 · Debian:14Package registry (OSV)

Exploit status

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Variant candidates

Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.

No nightly-computed relations.

Chain candidates

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No known public program.

Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).

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Change log

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References

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