Linux Kernel up to 7.2.5 ath11k ath11k_dp_rx_h_rate input validation

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

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 7.2.5. This issue affects the function ath11k_dp_rx_h_rate of the component ath11k. The manipulation leads to input validation. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2026-93271. The attack may be initiated remotely. There is no available exploit. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2.5 and classified as critical. This issue affects the function ath11k_dp_rx_h_rate of the component ath11k. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a input validation vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-20. The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. Impacted is integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath11k: cap out-of-range rx MCS instead of leaving bogus rate ath11k can receive HT/VHT/HE frames whose reported MCS is above the maximum that can be expressed in the corresponding mac80211 rate space (e.g. an HE frame reported with MCS 12, while HE tops out at MCS 11). The frame itself is valid and decodes correctly, but for such a frame ath11k_dp_rx_h_rate() leaves rx_status->rate_idx set to the out-of-range value and never assigns rx_status->encoding, so it stays RX_ENC_LEGACY from the ath11k_dp_rx_h_ppdu() initialization. Once that frame reaches mac80211 it trips the rate sanity check and the frame is dropped with a splat: ath11k_pci 0000:03:00.0: Received with invalid mcs in HE mode 12 WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 0 at net/mac80211/rx.c:5433 ieee80211_rx_list+0xb0a/0xe90 [mac80211] Dropping the frame would discard otherwise valid data, so instead cap the reported MCS to the maximum the rate space can express and deliver the frame. Set rx_status->encoding before the range check and assign rate_idx from the capped value, so a frame with an out-of-range MCS no longer leaves partial or bogus rate metadata behind. Also downgrade the logging level since they are not treated as invalid frames now. The only loss is that such a frame is reported as the capped MCS in the rx rate statistics. Tested-on: WCN6855 hw2.1 PCI WLAN.HSP.1.1-03125-QCAHSPSWPL_V1_V2_SILICONZ_LITE-3.6510.41

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-93271 since 09/17/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 09/24/2026).

Upgrading to version 5.10.270, 5.15.221, 6.1.188, 6.6.157, 6.12.110, 6.18.52, 7.2.6 or 7.3-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 6ad04c3e2ec54bf5ec72c81afdd66318a116c539/a6b951f79e66fc8bd93a537ff1040fbfb567c8bf/b77bfe6e59b98dff3ccfcf9b45fc27e3db498626/fb7b9a7209f839c17c66484dfdc84c9a23c6fd2f/a0b3e6f9645d88f387c4fea546048a91952cd4cd/2bb2a778a487305bd378db5fd5014fbdce4ada2c/ccbd20f2168f581d90265da1a925b9b6472a0b05/12b09e478aa7459b7893a695ef77682202f2da83 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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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.2

VulDB Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Temp Score: 6.2
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Input validation
CWE: CWE-20
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 5.10.270/5.15.221/6.1.188/6.6.157/6.12.110/6.18.52/7.2.6/7.3-rc1
Patch: 6ad04c3e2ec54bf5ec72c81afdd66318a116c539/a6b951f79e66fc8bd93a537ff1040fbfb567c8bf/b77bfe6e59b98dff3ccfcf9b45fc27e3db498626/fb7b9a7209f839c17c66484dfdc84c9a23c6fd2f/a0b3e6f9645d88f387c4fea546048a91952cd4cd/2bb2a778a487305bd378db5fd5014fbdce4ada2c/ccbd20f2168f581d90265da1a925b9b6472a0b05/12b09e478aa7459b7893a695ef77682202f2da83

Timelineinfo

09/17/2026 CVE reserved
09/24/2026 +7 days Advisory disclosed
09/24/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
09/24/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-93271 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-93271
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-409523

Entryinfo

Created: 09/24/2026 19:01
Changes: 09/24/2026 19:01 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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