Linux Kernel up to 6.12.100/6.18.41/7.1.5/7.2-rc3 cfg80211 cfg80211_pmsr_process_abort deadlock

| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 6.2 | $0-$5k | 1.32- |
Summary
A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.100/6.18.41/7.1.5/7.2-rc3. This impacts the function cfg80211_pmsr_process_abort of the component cfg80211. This manipulation causes deadlock.
This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-68408. The attack can be initiated remotely. There is not any exploit available.
Details
A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.100/6.18.41/7.1.5/7.2-rc3. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function cfg80211_pmsr_process_abort of the component cfg80211. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a deadlock vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-833. The product contains multiple threads or executable segments that are waiting for each other to release a necessary lock, resulting in deadlock. As an impact it is known to affect availability. The summary by CVE is:
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: cfg80211: convert pmsr_free_wk to wiphy_work to fix deadlock When a netlink socket that owns a PMSR session is closed, cfg80211_release_pmsr() clears the request's nl_portid and queues pmsr_free_wk to call cfg80211_pmsr_process_abort() asynchronously. If the interface tears down concurrently, cfg80211_pmsr_wdev_down() is called under wiphy_lock and calls cancel_work_sync(&pmsr_free_wk) to wait for any running work. The work function acquires wiphy_lock via guard(wiphy) before calling process_abort. This is a deadlock: wdev_down holds wiphy_lock and blocks inside cancel_work_sync(); pmsr_free_wk blocks trying to acquire that same wiphy_lock. Neither thread can proceed. The same deadlock is reachable from cfg80211_leave_locked(), which calls cfg80211_pmsr_wdev_down() for all interface types under wiphy_lock. Fix this by converting pmsr_free_wk from a plain work_struct to a wiphy_work. The wiphy_work dispatcher holds wiphy_lock when running work items, so the explicit guard(wiphy) in the work function is no longer needed. wiphy_work_cancel() can be called safely while holding wiphy_lock - since wiphy_lock prevents the work from running concurrently, wiphy_work_cancel() never blocks, eliminating the deadlock. Remove the cancel_work_sync() for pmsr_free_wk from the NETDEV_GOING_DOWN handler. cfg80211_leave(), called unconditionally just before it, already cancels any pending work under wiphy_lock via wiphy_work_cancel() inside cfg80211_pmsr_wdev_down().
The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-68408 since 07/30/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be launched remotely. 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 08/10/2026). MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1499 for this issue.
Upgrading to version 6.12.101, 6.18.42, 7.1.6 or 7.2-rc4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 21512b5f7a74fd18c996c22e6854efe57d570816/133684982dd0c24359fcc641d19d89cc17d6e5ef/0a77d9fb4d5c0e01306cd406ffdee8f1fe955c0e/2b0eab425e1f658d8fe1df7590e3b9af5959505e is able to eliminate this problem.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Product
Type
Vendor
Name
Version
- 6.0
- 6.1
- 6.2
- 6.3
- 6.4
- 6.5
- 6.6
- 6.7
- 6.8
- 6.9
- 6.10
- 6.11
- 6.12.100
- 6.18.0
- 6.18.1
- 6.18.2
- 6.18.3
- 6.18.4
- 6.18.5
- 6.18.6
- 6.18.7
- 6.18.8
- 6.18.9
- 6.18.10
- 6.18.11
- 6.18.12
- 6.18.13
- 6.18.14
- 6.18.15
- 6.18.16
- 6.18.17
- 6.18.18
- 6.18.19
- 6.18.20
- 6.18.21
- 6.18.22
- 6.18.23
- 6.18.24
- 6.18.25
- 6.18.26
- 6.18.27
- 6.18.28
- 6.18.29
- 6.18.30
- 6.18.31
- 6.18.32
- 6.18.33
- 6.18.34
- 6.18.35
- 6.18.36
- 6.18.37
- 6.18.38
- 6.18.39
- 6.18.40
- 6.18.41
- 7.1.0
- 7.1.1
- 7.1.2
- 7.1.3
- 7.1.4
- 7.1.5
- 7.2-rc1
- 7.2-rc2
- 7.2-rc3
License
Website
- Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔒VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.5VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.2
VulDB Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Temp Score: 6.2
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv2
| AV | AC | Au | C | I | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| Vector | Complexity | Authentication | Confidentiality | Integrity | Availability |
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| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: DeadlockCWE: CWE-833 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒
Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes
Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒
| 0-Day | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: UpgradeStatus: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔒
Upgrade: Kernel 6.12.101/6.18.42/7.1.6/7.2-rc4
Patch: 21512b5f7a74fd18c996c22e6854efe57d570816/133684982dd0c24359fcc641d19d89cc17d6e5ef/0a77d9fb4d5c0e01306cd406ffdee8f1fe955c0e/2b0eab425e1f658d8fe1df7590e3b9af5959505e
Timeline
07/30/2026 CVE reserved08/10/2026 Advisory disclosed
08/10/2026 VulDB entry created
08/10/2026 VulDB entry last update
Sources
Vendor: kernel.orgAdvisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed
CVE: CVE-2026-68408 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-68408
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-387781
Entry
Created: 08/10/2026 18:42Changes: 08/10/2026 18:42 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
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