CVE-2026-98332 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 10/06/2026
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
wifi: mac80211: only operate on TDLS peers in the TDLS code
ieee80211_tdls_oper() can operate on the AP station, which then yields various warnings when the AP station is removed then or at a later point in time after being confused for a TDLS peer.
Always check that the station is a TDLS peer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2026
The Linux kernel vulnerability identified within the mac80211 subsystem represents a critical logic error in how Direct Link Setup (TDLS) operations are validated against network stations. The core technical flaw resides in the ieee80211_tdls_oper function, which is responsible for managing TDLS peer relationships and associated data path modifications. Under normal operational conditions, this function should exclusively target station entries that have been explicitly negotiated as TDLS peers through the 802.11 standard's direct link setup procedures. However, due to insufficient validation logic, the code fails to distinguish between a legitimate TDLS peer and other types of stations present in the local mesh or infrastructure network, most notably the Access Point station itself. This oversight allows the function to execute state changes on an AP station that are intended only for peer-to-peer direct links, leading to severe internal inconsistencies within the kernel's networking stack.
The operational impact of this flaw is significant and manifests primarily through system instability and diagnostic noise rather than immediate remote code execution or data exfiltration. When the ieee80211_tdls_oper function incorrectly targets an AP station, it triggers a series of warnings as the kernel detects conflicting states. These warnings are particularly acute when the confused AP station entry is subsequently removed from memory or at later points in time after the erroneous operation has taken place. The confusion arises because the TDLS code modifies internal structures assuming a peer-to-peer context, while the AP station operates under different lifecycle and security constraints inherent to infrastructure mode networks. This mismatch can lead to use-after-free conditions if references are held incorrectly, memory corruption due to improper state transitions, or simply functional degradation where Wi-Fi connectivity becomes unstable as the driver struggles with conflicting configuration states for the same network interface.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-20 Improper Input Validation and CWE-841 Improper Enforcement of Behavioral Restrictions. The failure lies in the lack of rigorous verification that the target entity meets the specific criteria required for TDLS operations before proceeding with state modifications. In terms of attack vectors, while primarily a stability issue, an attacker capable of manipulating station association states or triggering race conditions during network reconfiguration could potentially exacerbate these warnings into more severe denial-of-service scenarios by forcing repeated invalid state transitions on critical infrastructure stations like the AP entry. This falls under MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to resource exhaustion and disruption of service availability within local networks, specifically leveraging improper input validation in system components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve both immediate patching and long-term architectural improvements. The primary remediation is applying the kernel update that enforces strict type checking on station entries before any TDLS operation is initiated. Developers must ensure that ieee80211_tdls_oper explicitly verifies the station's flags to confirm it possesses the TDLS peer attribute, thereby preventing execution paths from ever reaching code blocks designed for direct link management when applied to infrastructure stations. Furthermore, defensive programming practices should be adopted across the mac80211 subsystem to include comprehensive assertions and logging that validate entity types during critical state transitions. Regular auditing of network driver logic against 802.11 standard specifications is essential to prevent similar logical errors where context-specific operations are applied broadly without adequate scoping constraints, ensuring robustness against both accidental misconfigurations and potential exploitation attempts targeting kernel stability mechanisms.