Linux Kernel up to 6.18.19/6.19.9/7.0-rc4 wifi ieee80211_tx_prepare_skb double free

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.2$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as critical has been reported in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.19/6.19.9/7.0-rc4. This vulnerability affects the function ieee80211_tx_prepare_skb of the component wifi. Performing a manipulation results in double free. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2026-23444. There is no exploit available. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.19/6.19.9/7.0-rc4. This affects the function ieee80211_tx_prepare_skb of the component wifi. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a double free vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-415. The product calls free() twice on the same memory address, potentially leading to modification of unexpected memory locations. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mac80211: always free skb on ieee80211_tx_prepare_skb() failure ieee80211_tx_prepare_skb() has three error paths, but only two of them free the skb. The first error path (ieee80211_tx_prepare() returning TX_DROP) does not free it, while invoke_tx_handlers() failure and the fragmentation check both do. Add kfree_skb() to the first error path so all three are consistent, and remove the now-redundant frees in callers (ath9k, mt76, mac80211_hwsim) to avoid double-free. Document the skb ownership guarantee in the function's kdoc.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-23444 since 01/13/2026. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 06/25/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 320429 (openSUSE 16 Security Update : kernel (openSUSE-SU-2026:20912-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.18.20, 6.19.10 or 7.0-rc5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 06e769dddcbeb3baf2ce346273b53dd61fdbecf4/50f1b690b4868923fbd242298def2fb88662f108/d5ad6ab61cbd89afdb60881f6274f74328af3ee9 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 (320429) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-0985). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Affected

  • Google Container-Optimized OS
  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Microsoft Azure Linux

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.2

VulDB Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Temp Score: 5.3
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CNA Base Score: 7.8
CNA Vector (Linux): 🔒

CVSSv2info

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Double free
CWE: CWE-415 / CWE-119
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: 320429
Nessus Name: openSUSE 16 Security Update : kernel (openSUSE-SU-2026:20912-1)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.18.20/6.19.10/7.0-rc5
Patch: 06e769dddcbeb3baf2ce346273b53dd61fdbecf4/50f1b690b4868923fbd242298def2fb88662f108/d5ad6ab61cbd89afdb60881f6274f74328af3ee9

Timelineinfo

01/13/2026 CVE reserved
04/03/2026 +79 days Advisory disclosed
04/03/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
06/25/2026 +83 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-23444 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-23444
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-355149
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2026-0985 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 04/03/2026 18:13
Updated: 06/25/2026 08:08
Changes: 04/03/2026 18:13 (59), 05/11/2026 19:48 (7), 06/02/2026 15:48 (20), 06/11/2026 13:52 (2), 06/25/2026 08:08 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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