CVE-2026-68412 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 08/10/2026
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
wifi: cfg80211: Fix an error handling path in cfg80211_wext_siwscan()
If the test against IEEE80211_MAX_SSID_LEN fails, then 'creq' leaks. Use the existing error handling path to fix it.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/10/2026
The vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel's wireless subsystem represents a memory leak condition within the cfg80211 configuration framework that handles wireless scanning operations. This issue specifically affects the cfg80211_wext_siwscan() function which processes wireless scan requests through the wireless extension interface. The flaw occurs when the system performs validation against the IEEE80211_MAX_SSID_LEN constant, which defines the maximum length for SSID identifiers in wireless networks. When this validation fails, the function fails to properly clean up allocated memory resources, resulting in a memory leak that persists until the system reboots or the kernel module is unloaded.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate error handling within the wireless configuration code path. The cfg80211 subsystem manages wireless device configurations and maintains structures for wireless request parameters including scan requests. When an incoming scan request contains an SSID that exceeds the defined maximum length, the validation logic correctly identifies the invalid input but fails to execute proper cleanup routines. The 'creq' variable which holds the allocated memory structure for the wireless scan request becomes orphaned in memory, creating a resource leak that can accumulate over time and potentially impact system stability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-401 Memory Leak, where allocated memory is not properly released following error conditions. The impact extends beyond simple memory consumption as it represents a potential denial of service vector that could degrade system performance or lead to resource exhaustion in environments with frequent wireless scanning operations. Attackers could potentially exploit this by repeatedly submitting malformed wireless scan requests with excessively long SSID values, causing progressive memory consumption that may eventually affect other kernel subsystems or the overall system responsiveness.
The vulnerability manifests through the wireless extension interface commonly used by legacy wireless tools and applications that interact with the Linux kernel's wireless configuration framework. The fix implemented addresses this by leveraging existing error handling mechanisms within the codebase rather than introducing new cleanup logic, ensuring consistency with established patterns in the kernel's memory management practices. This approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python where malicious actors might attempt to exploit such resource management flaws through automated scanning tools or network reconnaissance activities.
The resolution follows standard kernel development practices for error handling and resource cleanup, ensuring that all allocated memory structures are properly freed regardless of execution path taken during function processing. This type of vulnerability represents a common class of issues in kernel space programming where defensive programming principles must account for all possible code paths including error conditions. The fix demonstrates proper adherence to kernel security guidelines that require careful attention to resource management in all execution paths, particularly those involving user input validation and memory allocation operations within network subsystems.