Linux Kernel up to 6.8.1 wifi ath9k_wmi_event_tasklet null pointer dereference

| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 4.6 | $0-$5k | 0.00 |
Summary
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.
Details
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.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Product
Type
Vendor
Name
Version
- 5.0
- 5.1
- 5.2
- 5.3
- 5.4
- 5.5
- 5.6
- 5.7
- 5.8
- 5.9
- 5.10
- 5.10.213
- 5.11
- 5.12
- 5.13
- 5.14
- 5.15
- 5.15.152
- 5.16
- 5.17
- 6.1.0
- 6.1.1
- 6.1.2
- 6.1.3
- 6.1.4
- 6.1.5
- 6.1.6
- 6.1.7
- 6.1.8
- 6.1.9
- 6.1.10
- 6.1.11
- 6.1.12
- 6.1.13
- 6.1.14
- 6.1.15
- 6.1.16
- 6.1.17
- 6.1.18
- 6.1.19
- 6.1.20
- 6.1.21
- 6.1.22
- 6.1.23
- 6.1.24
- 6.1.25
- 6.1.26
- 6.1.27
- 6.1.28
- 6.1.29
- 6.1.30
- 6.1.31
- 6.1.32
- 6.1.33
- 6.1.34
- 6.1.35
- 6.1.36
- 6.1.37
- 6.1.38
- 6.1.39
- 6.1.40
- 6.1.41
- 6.1.42
- 6.1.43
- 6.1.44
- 6.1.45
- 6.1.46
- 6.1.47
- 6.1.48
- 6.1.49
- 6.1.50
- 6.1.51
- 6.1.52
- 6.1.53
- 6.1.54
- 6.1.55
- 6.1.56
- 6.1.57
- 6.1.58
- 6.1.59
- 6.1.60
- 6.1.61
- 6.1.62
- 6.1.63
- 6.1.64
- 6.1.65
- 6.1.66
- 6.1.67
- 6.1.68
- 6.1.69
- 6.1.70
- 6.1.71
- 6.1.72
- 6.1.73
- 6.1.74
- 6.1.75
- 6.1.76
- 6.1.77
- 6.1.78
- 6.1.79
- 6.1.80
- 6.1.81
- 6.1.82
- 6.6.0
- 6.6.1
- 6.6.2
- 6.6.3
- 6.6.4
- 6.6.5
- 6.6.6
- 6.6.7
- 6.6.8
- 6.6.9
- 6.6.10
- 6.6.11
- 6.6.12
- 6.6.13
- 6.6.14
- 6.6.15
- 6.6.16
- 6.6.17
- 6.6.18
- 6.6.19
- 6.6.20
- 6.6.21
- 6.6.22
- 6.7.0
- 6.7.1
- 6.7.2
- 6.7.3
- 6.7.4
- 6.7.5
- 6.7.6
- 6.7.7
- 6.7.8
- 6.7.9
- 6.7.10
- 6.8.0
- 6.8.1
License
Website
- Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔍VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.8VulDB 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: 🔍
CVSSv2
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Null pointer dereferenceCWE: 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: 🔍
| 0-Day | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
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Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: UpgradeStatus: 🔍
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
Timeline
02/19/2024 🔍04/17/2024 🔍
04/17/2024 🔍
12/23/2025 🔍
Sources
Vendor: kernel.orgAdvisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed
CVE: CVE-2024-26897 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2024-26897
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-261292
Entry
Created: 04/17/2024 13:26Updated: 12/23/2025 23:34
Changes: 04/17/2024 13:26 (58), 12/23/2025 23:34 (11)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
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