CVE-2026-72024 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 08/15/2026
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
mac802154: remove interfaces with RCU list deletion
Queue wake, stop, and disable paths walk local->interfaces under RCU. The bulk hardware teardown path removes entries with list_del(), so an asynchronous transmit completion can follow a poisoned list node in ieee802154_wake_queue().
Use list_del_rcu() as in the single-interface removal path. The following unregister_netdevice() waits for in-flight RCU readers before freeing the netdevice, so no separate grace-period wait is needed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2026
This vulnerability exists within the linux kernel's mac802154 subsystem where improper list management during network interface removal creates a potential race condition that could lead to system instability or denial of service. The issue specifically affects the ieee802154 wireless networking implementation which handles 802154 standard compliant devices such as low-power wireless sensor networks and personal area networks.
The technical flaw occurs in how the kernel handles interface cleanup operations within the mac802154 subsystem. During normal operation, the system maintains a list of network interfaces using RCU (Read-Copy-Update) mechanisms to allow concurrent readers while writers can safely modify the list structure. However, when interfaces are removed through the bulk hardware teardown path, the code uses list_del() which immediately removes the node from the list without proper RCU synchronization. This creates a scenario where asynchronous transmit completion handlers might access memory locations that have been freed but not yet fully reclaimed by the RCU grace period.
The operational impact of this vulnerability becomes apparent when considering the multi-path execution flow within the subsystem. Queue wake, stop, and disable operations all traverse the local->interfaces list under RCU protection, meaning they can safely read from the list while modifications occur. However, the hardware teardown path uses the non-RCU aware list_del() function to remove entries, creating a mismatch between how readers access the list and how writers modify it. This mismatch allows for potential use-after-free conditions where transmit completion handlers might reference memory that has been deallocated but not yet fully cleaned up by the RCU mechanism.
The vulnerability demonstrates a classic race condition pattern commonly referenced in CWE-362 (Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization) and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 (Network Denial of Service) as it could potentially lead to system instability through improper resource management. The fix implemented addresses this by switching from list_del() to list_del_rcu() in the bulk removal path, ensuring proper RCU synchronization that matches the pattern used in single-interface removal operations.
This correction maintains consistency with established kernel patterns where unregister_netdevice() already handles the necessary RCU grace period management through its internal synchronization mechanisms. The system no longer requires explicit separate grace-period waits because the existing unregister_netdevice() call properly coordinates with RCU readers, ensuring that all in-flight accesses complete before any memory is freed. This approach follows the established kernel design patterns for managing shared data structures under concurrent access scenarios and aligns with best practices for implementing safe list manipulation in kernel space environments where multiple execution paths must safely share resources without causing memory corruption or system crashes.
The vulnerability resolution represents a fundamental improvement to the subsystem's memory management robustness by ensuring consistent use of RCU primitives throughout all interface removal pathways. This prevents the potential for asynchronous operations to access freed memory locations while maintaining the performance characteristics that RCU provides for concurrent access scenarios. The fix demonstrates proper adherence to kernel development practices where shared data structures must be manipulated using appropriate synchronization mechanisms that account for all possible access patterns within the system's execution contexts.