Linux Kernel up to 6.12.109/6.18.51/7.2.5 ath11k ath11k_wmi_tlv_mac_phy_caps_parse buffer overflow

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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9.5$5k-$25k0.39

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.109/6.18.51/7.2.5 and classified as very critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function ath11k_wmi_tlv_mac_phy_caps_parse of the component ath11k. The manipulation results in buffer overflow. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2026-90398. The attack can be executed remotely. There is not any exploit available. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.109/6.18.51/7.2.5. Affected is the function ath11k_wmi_tlv_mac_phy_caps_parse of the component ath11k. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a buffer overflow vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-120. The product copies an input buffer to an output buffer without verifying that the size of the input buffer is less than the size of the output buffer, leading to a buffer overflow. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath11k: fix stride mismatch in mac_phy_caps_parse() Currently, in ath11k_wmi_tlv_mac_phy_caps_parse(), kcalloc() sizes the mac_phy_caps buffer as tot_phy_id * len, where len is clamped to min(firmware_len, sizeof(struct wmi_mac_phy_capabilities)). The subsequent memcpy() destination advances by sizeof(full struct) per slot via C pointer arithmetic, not by the clamped len. When firmware sends short TLVs, the second and later slots are written past the end of the allocation. The reader in ath11k_pull_mac_phy_cap_svc_ready_ext() also indexes the buffer with full-struct pointer arithmetic, so the allocation must match that stride. Fix by using kzalloc_objs(), which derives the element size from the pointer type, making allocation size and pointer stride provably consistent regardless of what len the firmware provides. Compile tested only.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-90398 since 09/11/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $5k-$25k (estimation calculated on 09/17/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.12.110, 6.18.52, 7.2.6 or 7.3-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch bbb3b3334a9ed850c5b332eedea107796e691237/75185e2b214e842b7e0af29e5d1fef155662b8b1/acff2713c3212ade15051e7b421f15c89927e70f/7a246c72132eb943b5844ba79dad597b47429dba is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.5

VulDB Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Temp Score: 9.5
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: Buffer overflow
CWE: CWE-120 / CWE-119
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 6.12.110/6.18.52/7.2.6/7.3-rc1
Patch: bbb3b3334a9ed850c5b332eedea107796e691237/75185e2b214e842b7e0af29e5d1fef155662b8b1/acff2713c3212ade15051e7b421f15c89927e70f/7a246c72132eb943b5844ba79dad597b47429dba

Timelineinfo

09/11/2026 CVE reserved
09/17/2026 +6 days Advisory disclosed
09/17/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
09/17/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-90398 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-90398
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-406956

Entryinfo

Created: 09/17/2026 22:14
Changes: 09/17/2026 22:14 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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