CVE-2014-2706 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Race condition in the mac80211 subsystem in the Linux kernel before 3.13.7 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (system crash) via network traffic that improperly interacts with the WLAN_STA_PS_STA state (aka power-save mode), related to sta_info.c and tx.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2706 represents a critical race condition within the mac80211 subsystem of the Linux kernel affecting versions prior to 3.13.7. This flaw exists in the wireless networking stack and specifically targets the handling of power-save mode states within the wireless local area network (WLAN) infrastructure. The mac80211 subsystem serves as the core wireless networking framework in Linux, managing wireless device drivers and providing a unified interface for wireless network operations across various hardware platforms. The vulnerability manifests when network traffic improperly interacts with the WLAN_STA_PS_STA state, which governs power-save mode functionality for wireless stations in the network.
The technical implementation of this race condition occurs within the sta_info.c and tx.c source files of the kernel's wireless subsystem. These files manage station information and transmission handling respectively, where concurrent access to shared data structures creates opportunities for inconsistent state management. When a wireless station enters power-save mode, the kernel maintains specific state information in the WLAN_STA_PS_STA state variable to track whether the station is in a low-power sleeping state. The race condition arises when multiple threads or processes attempt to modify this state simultaneously without proper synchronization mechanisms, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential memory corruption. This particular flaw falls under the CWE-362 category of "Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization" which directly relates to the improper handling of shared data structures in concurrent environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability enables remote attackers to trigger a denial of service condition that can result in complete system crashes or reboots. Attackers can craft specific network packets that exploit the race condition during the transition between active and power-save states, causing the kernel to enter an inconsistent state that ultimately leads to a kernel oops or system panic. This type of attack is particularly dangerous in wireless environments where attackers may be able to influence network traffic from a distance, making it possible to disrupt wireless services without requiring physical access to the target system. The vulnerability affects any Linux system running kernel versions before 3.13.7 that utilizes wireless networking capabilities, including laptops, servers, and embedded devices with wireless interfaces.
From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for "Network Denial of Service" and represents a system-level compromise that can be executed remotely. The attack vector leverages the network interface to deliver malicious packets that trigger the race condition, making it a classic example of a remote code execution vulnerability that results in denial of service rather than arbitrary code execution. The exploitation process requires minimal privileges and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous for network infrastructure devices that rely on wireless connectivity. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including kernel updates to version 3.13.7 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the race condition through proper synchronization mechanisms in the mac80211 subsystem. Network administrators should also consider implementing wireless intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious packet patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.
The root cause of this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the kernel's concurrent programming model where shared resources are accessed without adequate locking mechanisms. The patch for this vulnerability involves implementing proper mutex or spinlock synchronization around the critical sections that modify the WLAN_STA_PS_STA state, ensuring that only one thread can modify the state at any given time. This fix aligns with standard kernel development practices for handling concurrent access to shared data structures and represents a typical remediation approach for race condition vulnerabilities in kernel space code. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper synchronization in kernel-level programming and the potential for seemingly minor concurrency issues to result in catastrophic system failures.