Linux Kernel up to 7.3-rc3 libertas_tf lbtf_free_adapter use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.	Current Exploit Price (≈) Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.	CTI Interest Score Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
9.5	$5k-$25k	0.25

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as very critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 7.3-rc3. Impacted is the function lbtf_free_adapter of the component libertas_tf. This manipulation causes use after free. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2026-98194. The attack may be initiated remotely. There is no available exploit. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.3-rc3. It has been declared as very critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function lbtf_free_adapter of the component libertas_tf. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: libertas_tf: fix UAF in lbtf_free_adapter() lbtf_free_adapter() calls lbtf_free_cmd_buffer() to free the command buffers before calling timer_delete_sync() to wait for the command timer callback. If the timer callback (command_timer_fn) is already running when lbtf_free_cmd_buffer() frees the command array, the callback dereferences priv->cur_cmd->cmdbuf which points to freed memory. Swap the order so that timer_delete_sync() runs first, ensuring any in-flight callback has completed before the command buffers are freed.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-98194 since 09/25/2026. 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 $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/07/2026).

Upgrading to version 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.54, 7.2.8 or 7.3-rc4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 3fb3663260ec396f86b733aab9f81fac6669d2fa/f6c3fa0d17ca0c9e6033bb45f52e33b27a9a40e6/b4745d6063758c681d33affca9733bbd356b6ea1/41b1a4d545ec348b7d5324b6d4f4c6a3e0326d46/2b99bfc5a127ce8cd6a887d82815fc2e712f365b/e82536aad653e27c8ca7a8e0f6f816bc3f853ec3/04c837d413dc11a91e0275b08b9e35a6c111175e/bbb9a0ab96d44a64529aafc7a16de460a1712f6a is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-3743). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Affected

• Open Source Linux Kernel

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.10.270
• 5.15.221
• 6.1.188
• 6.6.157
• 6.12.111
• 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
• 6.18.42
• 6.18.43
• 6.18.44
• 6.18.45
• 6.18.46
• 6.18.47
• 6.18.48
• 6.18.49
• 6.18.50
• 6.18.51
• 6.18.52
• 6.18.53
• 7.2.0
• 7.2.1
• 7.2.2
• 7.2.3
• 7.2.4
• 7.2.5
• 7.2.6
• 7.2.7
• 7.3-rc1
• 7.3-rc2
• 7.3-rc3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 9.9
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.5

VulDB Base Score: 9.9
VulDB Temp Score: 9.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Use after free
CWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.10.271/5.15.222/6.1.189/6.6.158/6.12.112/6.18.54/7.2.8/7.3-rc4
Patch: 3fb3663260ec396f86b733aab9f81fac6669d2fa/f6c3fa0d17ca0c9e6033bb45f52e33b27a9a40e6/b4745d6063758c681d33affca9733bbd356b6ea1/41b1a4d545ec348b7d5324b6d4f4c6a3e0326d46/2b99bfc5a127ce8cd6a887d82815fc2e712f365b/e82536aad653e27c8ca7a8e0f6f816bc3f853ec3/04c837d413dc11a91e0275b08b9e35a6c111175e/bbb9a0ab96d44a64529aafc7a16de460a1712f6a

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 CVE reserved
10/06/2026 +11 days Advisory disclosed
10/06/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
10/07/2026 +1 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-98194 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-98194
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-414133
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2026-3743 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 10/06/2026 13:02
Updated: 10/07/2026 08:58
Changes: 10/06/2026 13:02 (59), 10/07/2026 08:58 (7)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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Discussion

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