CVE-2026-98874 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 10/23/2026
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
wifi: iwlwifi: mld: don't WARN on WoWLAN suspend w/o netdetect
Clearly, from a user perspective, it must be valid to configure WoWLAN and then suspend while not connected to a network. Since mac80211 doesn't distinguish these cases and simply calls the driver to suspend whenever WoWLAN is configured, the driver has to cleanly handle the case where it's called for WoWLAN, it's not connected but there's also no netdetect configured.
Remove the WARN_ON() and keep returning 1 to disconnect and then suspend.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2026
The Linux kernel vulnerability addressed in this update pertains to a logic error within the iwlwifi driver’s handling of Wake-on-Wireless-LAN (WoWLAN) operations during system suspension. Specifically, the issue arises when WoWLAN is enabled but the device is not currently connected to any wireless network and no netdetect configuration is present. Under these conditions, mac80211 invokes the driver's suspend routine because WoWLAN is active, yet the iwlwifi driver incorrectly triggers a WARN_ON() macro due to an unhandled edge case where it expects either an active connection or specific detection parameters that are absent in this scenario.
From a technical perspective, the flaw lies in the driver’s failure to gracefully manage states where WoWLAN is configured but lacks the necessary context for standard operation. The presence of the WARN_ON() call indicates that the kernel developers anticipated this path might be invalid, yet user configurations allow it. By retaining the warning, the system generates unnecessary log noise and potentially flags a false positive security or stability alert during routine power management cycles. This does not necessarily cause a crash but degrades operational cleanliness and can interfere with automated monitoring systems that parse kernel logs for warnings as indicators of potential instability.
The resolution involves removing the WARN_ON() statement to acknowledge this valid configuration state. The driver continues to return 1, which signals mac80211 to proceed with disconnecting any existing associations before suspending the device. This ensures that the hardware enters a low-power state correctly without triggering kernel warnings for legitimate user configurations where WoWLAN is desired but no active network or detection rules are defined.
This issue aligns with CWE-754, which covers improper check for unusual or exceptional conditions. Although not a direct security exploit allowing remote code execution, it represents a robustness flaw in input validation and state management within the kernel’s wireless subsystem. In terms of ATT&CK mapping, this relates to T1078 Valid Accounts if an attacker were to abuse misconfigured services, but more accurately reflects internal system reliability issues rather than external attack vectors. The fix enhances system stability by preventing false positive alerts during standard power transitions.
To mitigate similar issues in the future, developers should ensure that all code paths triggered by user-configurable features like WoWLAN are thoroughly tested across various network states, including disconnected and unconfigured scenarios. Implementing explicit state checks before issuing warnings or errors helps maintain clean kernel logs and improves overall system reliability. Administrators relying on log-based monitoring tools may need to adjust their alert thresholds if similar patterns persist in other drivers, ensuring that expected operational behaviors do not trigger false alarms.