Linux Kernel up to 6.19-rc4 wifi iw_point memory leak

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CTI Interest Score
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4.4$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.19-rc4. It has been rated as critical. This vulnerability affects the function iw_point of the component wifi. The manipulation leads to memory leak. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-22978. No exploit exists. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.19-rc4. This issue affects the function iw_point of the component wifi. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory leak vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-401. The product does not sufficiently track and release allocated memory after it has been used, which slowly consumes remaining memory. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: avoid kernel-infoleak from struct iw_point struct iw_point has a 32bit hole on 64bit arches. struct iw_point { void __user *pointer; /* Pointer to the data (in user space) */ __u16 length; /* number of fields or size in bytes */ __u16 flags; /* Optional params */ }; Make sure to zero the structure to avoid disclosing 32bits of kernel data to user space.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-22978 since 01/13/2026. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 296386 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-22978), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.10.248, 5.15.198, 6.1.161, 6.6.121, 6.12.66, 6.18.6 or 6.19-rc5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch d943b5f592767b107ba8c12a902f17431350378c/a3827e310b5a73535646ef4a552d53b3c8bf74f6/442ceac0393185e9982323f6682a52a53e8462b1/d21ec867d84c9f3a9845d7d8c90c9ce35dbe48f8/e3c35177103ead4658b8a62f41e3080d45885464/21cbf883d073abbfe09e3924466aa5e0449e7261 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.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (296386) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-0215). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Affected

  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • IBM QRadar SIEM
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • NetApp ActiveIQ Unified Manager
  • Open Source Linux Kernel

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.4

VulDB Base Score: 5.7
VulDB Temp Score: 5.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 3.3
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory leak
CWE: CWE-401 / 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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Nessus ID: 296386
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-22978

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.10.248/5.15.198/6.1.161/6.6.121/6.12.66/6.18.6/6.19-rc5
Patch: d943b5f592767b107ba8c12a902f17431350378c/a3827e310b5a73535646ef4a552d53b3c8bf74f6/442ceac0393185e9982323f6682a52a53e8462b1/d21ec867d84c9f3a9845d7d8c90c9ce35dbe48f8/e3c35177103ead4658b8a62f41e3080d45885464/21cbf883d073abbfe09e3924466aa5e0449e7261

Timelineinfo

01/13/2026 CVE reserved
01/23/2026 +10 days Advisory disclosed
01/23/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
05/17/2026 +114 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-22978 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-22978
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-342587
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2026-0215 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 01/23/2026 17:26
Updated: 05/17/2026 20:04
Changes: 01/23/2026 17:26 (59), 01/25/2026 12:46 (2), 02/27/2026 02:04 (11), 03/02/2026 10:01 (7), 05/17/2026 20:04 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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