Linux Kernel up to 6.8.1 wifi ath9k_wmi_event_tasklet null pointer dereference

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4.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.8.1. This impacts the function ath9k_wmi_event_tasklet of the component wifi. Executing a manipulation can lead to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2024-26897. No exploit exists. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.8.1 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects the function ath9k_wmi_event_tasklet of the component wifi. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. As an impact it is known to affect availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath9k: delay all of ath9k_wmi_event_tasklet() until init is complete The ath9k_wmi_event_tasklet() used in ath9k_htc assumes that all the data structures have been fully initialised by the time it runs. However, because of the order in which things are initialised, this is not guaranteed to be the case, because the device is exposed to the USB subsystem before the ath9k driver initialisation is completed. We already committed a partial fix for this in commit: 8b3046abc99e ("ath9k_htc: fix NULL pointer dereference at ath9k_htc_tx_get_packet()") However, that commit only aborted the WMI_TXSTATUS_EVENTID command in the event tasklet, pairing it with an "initialisation complete" bit in the TX struct. It seems syzbot managed to trigger the race for one of the other commands as well, so let's just move the existing synchronisation bit to cover the whole tasklet (setting it at the end of ath9k_htc_probe_device() instead of inside ath9k_tx_init()).

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2024-26897 since 02/19/2024. The exploitation appears to be difficult. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 5.10.214, 5.15.153, 5.17, 6.1.83, 6.6.23, 6.7.11, 6.8.2 or 6.9-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 1bc5461a21c5/f8ff4b4df71e/74d0639261dd/a015fbf698c8/ac90e22e735b/4afa0246656d/24355fcb0d4c is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

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Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.6

VulDB Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Temp Score: 4.6
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 4.7
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Null pointer dereference
CWE: CWE-476 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Kernel 5.10.214/5.15.153/5.17/6.1.83/6.6.23/6.7.11/6.8.2/6.9-rc1
Patch: 1bc5461a21c5/f8ff4b4df71e/74d0639261dd/a015fbf698c8/ac90e22e735b/4afa0246656d/24355fcb0d4c

Timelineinfo

02/19/2024 🔍
04/17/2024 +57 days 🔍
04/17/2024 +0 days 🔍
12/23/2025 +615 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2024-26897 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2024-26897
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-261292

Entryinfo

Created: 04/17/2024 13:26
Updated: 12/23/2025 23:34
Changes: 04/17/2024 13:26 (58), 12/23/2025 23:34 (11)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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