Linux Kernel up to 6.18.5/6.19-rc4 wifi mac80211_hwsim null pointer dereference

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.5/6.19-rc4. This vulnerability affects the function mac80211_hwsim of the component wifi. Executing a manipulation can lead to null pointer dereference. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-23040. There is no exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.5/6.19-rc4. This vulnerability affects the function mac80211_hwsim 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: mac80211_hwsim: fix typo in frequency notification The NAN notification is for 5745 MHz which corresponds to channel 149 and not 5475 which is not actually a valid channel. This could result in a NULL pointer dereference in cfg80211_next_nan_dw_notif.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-23040 since 01/13/2026. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 297932 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-23040), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.18.6 or 6.19-rc5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 1251bbdb8f5b2ea86ca9b4268a2e6aa34372ab33/333418872bfecf4843f1ded7a4151685dfcf07d5 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 (297932) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-0324). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Affected

  • Debian Linux
  • Google Cloud Platform
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • IBM QRadar SIEM
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Open Source Linux Kernel

Productinfo

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Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.7
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.5

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

CVSSv2info

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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: No
Local: No
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 297932
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-23040

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.18.6/6.19-rc5
Patch: 1251bbdb8f5b2ea86ca9b4268a2e6aa34372ab33/333418872bfecf4843f1ded7a4151685dfcf07d5

Timelineinfo

01/13/2026 CVE reserved
02/04/2026 +22 days Advisory disclosed
02/04/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
04/30/2026 +85 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-23040 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-23040
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-344314
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2026-0324 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 02/04/2026 18:12
Updated: 04/30/2026 03:29
Changes: 02/04/2026 18:12 (59), 02/05/2026 15:20 (7), 02/05/2026 17:19 (2), 04/30/2026 03:29 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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