Linux Kernel up to 7.2.5 ath12k ath12k_mac_vdev_create use after free

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2.5. Impacted is the function ath12k_mac_vdev_create of the component ath12k. Such manipulation leads to use after free. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-93094. The attack can be launched remotely. No exploit exists. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2.5 and classified as very critical. Affected by this issue is the function ath12k_mac_vdev_create of the component ath12k. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath12k: fix dp_link_peer dangling references on AP vdev rollback ath12k_mac_vdev_create() for an AP vdev creates the bss self-peer via ath12k_peer_create(), which finishes by calling ath12k_dp_link_peer_assign() to publish the dp_link_peer in the dp_hw->dp_peers[peerid_index] RCU table, in the dp_peer's link_peers[] array, and in the per-addr rhashtable. If a step after ath12k_peer_create() fails the function jumps to err_peer_del, which open-codes a WMI peer_delete and waits for the unmap / delete_resp events. The wait_for_peer_delete_done() path relies on ath12k_dp_link_peer_unmap_event() freeing the dp_link_peer when the unmap arrives, but err_peer_del never calls ath12k_dp_link_peer_unassign() first. The published references in the dp_hw RCU table, dp_peer->link_peers[] and the rhashtable are left pointing at the dp_link_peer that unmap_event then frees, producing dangling pointers and use-after-free on subsequent lookups. Replace the open-coded sequence with a call to ath12k_peer_delete(), which already does ath12k_dp_link_peer_unassign() before sending the WMI command. This drops the published references before the dp_link_peer is freed, in the same order as the normal teardown path in ath12k_mac_remove_link_interface(). Tested-on: WCN7850 hw2.0 PCI WLAN.HMT.1.1.c7-00108-QCAHMTSWPL_V1.0_V2.0_SILICONZ_UPSTREAM-3

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-93094 since 09/17/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. 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 7.2.6 or 7.3-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch af405d216316d99f9b48733145fc708110011e0f/f066e1a93703c5be0fd905109d00587541711c97 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 7.2.0
• 7.2.1
• 7.2.2
• 7.2.3
• 7.2.4
• 7.2.5

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Discussion