Vulnerability · CVE-2026-98423
CVE-2026-98423: wifi: mac80211_hwsim: don't hand frames to mac80211 while stopping
Published Oct 14, 2026 · catalog updated Oct 18, 2026 · Linux Linux Kernel
Check if you run it
No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2026-98423. EPSS is 0.21%. Act only if a listed version of Linux Linux Kernel is installed.
Gaps on this record
- No vendor fix or required action is stored. Compare the linked advisory before you change production.
- Severity
- Medium—
- Known exploitation
- Not in CISA/VulnCheck KEV
- EPSS
- 0.21%
- Remediation
- Advisory link
- Affected products
- Linux Kernel · linux kernel
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mac80211_hwsim: don't hand frames to mac80211 while stopping The code checks ->started for frames coming from wmediumd, but the radio can be stopped after the check and before frame delivery, causing mac80211 to hit the WARN_ON(!local->started). Expand the mutex for this case and synchronise against it when the radio is stopped to avoid being able to hit the warning with hwsim. Drop the error print that would've complicated the error path, it only triggers for allocation failures (already noisy) and malformed frames anyway.
Are you affected?
Enter the version you run. The result uses only the ranges stored on this record.
The check returns affected, not affected, or incomplete. It does not guess a version that is missing from the record.
- Linux Kernel3.1.0 → 6.1.189; 6.2.0 → 6.6.158; 6.7.0 → 6.12.112
- linux kernelversion unspecified
How to fix CVE-2026-98423
Recommended remediation
A patch or advisory reference is linked. Open the original publisher for availability by product version.
Official advisories
What to do
Three questions, each answered from this record only. Confirm the vendor advisory before you patch.
Should you patch?
No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2026-98423. EPSS is 0.21%. Act only if a listed version of Linux Linux Kernel is installed.
Which versions are affected?
Compare what you have installed with Kernel 3.1.0 → 6.1.189; 6.2.0 → 6.6.158; 6.7.0 → 6.12.112. Compare the installed version with the linked vendor advisory before you change production.
What should an analyst verify?
No weakness class is stored. EPSS 0.21%. There is no CISA KEV listing. No Exploit-DB or Metasploit reference is linked. Use the source links for the original advisory.
Code
The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.
Timeline
Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.
Oct 14, 2026 · Tenable CVE Database
Detected
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mac80211_hwsim: don't hand frames to mac80211 while stopping The code checks ->started for frames coming from wmediumd, but the radio can be stopped after the check and before frame delivery, causing mac80211 to hit the WARN_ON(!local->started). Expand the mutex for this case and synchronise against it when the radio is stop
Oct 18, 2026 · OpenSSF OSV / OSV Scanner
Fix available
Kernel fixed in 6.1.189; Kernel fixed in 6.6.158; Kernel fixed in 6.12.112; Kernel fixed in 6.18.54
Oct 18, 2026 · OpenSSF OSV / OSV Scanner
Fix available
Kernel fixed in 6.1.189; 6.2.0
Oct 18, 2026 · OpenSSF OSV / OSV Scanner
Updated
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mac80211_hwsim: don't hand frames to mac80211 while stopping The code checks ->started for frames coming from wmediumd, but the radio can be stopped after the check and before frame delivery, causing mac80211 to hit the WARN_ON(!local->started). Expand the mutex for this case and synchronise against it when the radio is stop
Sources
- CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2026-98423
Official CVE identifier
cve.org - FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2026-98423
30-day exploitation probability 0.2%
first.org - Linux Kernel CVEVendor advisoryCVE-2026-98423
From: Greg Kroah-Hartman Description =========== In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mac80211_hwsim: don't hand frames to mac80211 while stopping The code checks ->started for frames coming from wmediumd, but the radio can be stopped after th
git.kernel.org - OpenSSF OSV / OSV ScannerPackage advisoryCVE-2026-98423
wifi: mac80211_hwsim: don't hand frames to mac80211 while stopping
osv.dev - Tenable CVE DatabaseVulnerability recordCVE-2026-98423
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mac80211_hwsim: don't hand frames to mac80211 while stopping The code checks ->started for frames coming from wmediumd, but the radio can be stopped after the check and before frame delivery, causing mac80211 to hit the WARN_ON(!local->started). Expand the mutex for this case and synchronise against it when the radio is stop
tenable.com
References
Freshness
Last verified in this catalog Oct 18, 2026. Significant claims (KEV, EPSS, CVSS, affected ranges) come from the source rows above — open the original publisher for the authoritative advisory.