Linux Kernel up to 6.18.49/7.2.3 iwlwifi iwl_op_mode_dvm_start nvm_data/eeprom_blob memory leak

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.0$0-$5k0.42+

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.49/7.2.3. The impacted element is the function iwl_op_mode_dvm_start of the component iwlwifi. Such manipulation of the argument nvm_data/eeprom_blob leads to memory leak. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-80948. The attack can be launched remotely. No exploit exists. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.49/7.2.3. Affected by this issue is the function iwl_op_mode_dvm_start of the component iwlwifi. The manipulation of the argument nvm_data/eeprom_blob 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 confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: iwlwifi: dvm: fix memory leak in iwl_op_mode_dvm_start() In iwl_op_mode_dvm_start(), jumping to out_free_eeprom currently bypasses the out_free_eeprom_blob label. Consequently, error paths triggered after successfully parsing the EEPROM free priv->nvm_data but leak priv->eeprom_blob. Fix this memory leak by reordering the error handling labels so that out_free_eeprom falls through to out_free_eeprom_blob. The bug was first flagged by an experimental analysis tool we are developing for kernel memory-management bugs while analyzing v6.13-rc1. The tool is still under development and is not yet publicly available. Manual inspection confirms that the bug is still present in v7.1-rc6. An x86_64 allyesconfig build showed no new warnings. As we do not have supported Intel DVM wireless hardware and firmware to test with, no runtime testing was able to be performed.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-80948 since 08/26/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 09/11/2026). This vulnerability is assigned to T1499 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

Upgrading to version 6.18.50, 7.2.4 or 7.3-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 84ba017a1e1ea7896ed1e3258c947bdbfc5299c5/ad2a9fdca4a7100472be82ee6048c616fc589720/67105abd6195a685a84dcb8a5daf54a1f4bfdb60 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

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Productinfo

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Version

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.0

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 7.0
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

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: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.18.50/7.2.4/7.3-rc1
Patch: 84ba017a1e1ea7896ed1e3258c947bdbfc5299c5/ad2a9fdca4a7100472be82ee6048c616fc589720/67105abd6195a685a84dcb8a5daf54a1f4bfdb60

Timelineinfo

08/26/2026 CVE reserved
09/11/2026 +16 days Advisory disclosed
09/11/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
09/11/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-80948 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-80948
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-402662

Entryinfo

Created: 09/11/2026 23:27
Changes: 09/11/2026 23:27 (60)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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