Linux Kernel up to 6.18.52 iwlwifi iwl_mvm_build_scan_probe buffer overflow

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	1.23-

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as very critical has been identified in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.221/6.1.188/6.6.157/6.12.110/6.18.52. This affects the function iwl_mvm_build_scan_probe of the component iwlwifi. The manipulation results in buffer overflow. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2026-98889. The attack may be launched remotely. There is no exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.221/6.1.188/6.6.157/6.12.110/6.18.52. It has been classified as very critical. Affected is the function iwl_mvm_build_scan_probe of the component iwlwifi. 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: iwlwifi: mvm: fix sched scan IE sizing Scheduled scan built the probe request before iwl_mvm_scan_fits(), so oversized IEs could be copied into the fixed preq buffer before length validation. Move iwl_mvm_build_scan_probe() after the fits check. Also advertise max_sched_scan_ie_len using iwl_mvm_max_scan_ie_len() so userspace limits account for driver-inserted DS/TPC bytes.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-98889 since 09/25/2026. 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 10/23/2026).

Upgrading to version 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.111 or 6.18.53 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch f2268060e99f94314b9988dfa17393c2694fa9b2/358eca9a898ad4cce7453e9dcfd005d019a2b01f/05f79cea3b15cfe600b205ddcfd51ebee15d908a/a24417478f90e9f1a4ea24cd4b784afccb56fbae/0a63f98e5163a2ec2822dfb691ee5a6094de08ec/4f155d262b31b9b17e0f9856bdabe0968eb4930f 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

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.15.221
• 6.1.188
• 6.6.157
• 6.12.110
• 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

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: 10.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.5

VulDB Base Score: 10.0
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: 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: 🔒

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 5.15.222/6.1.189/6.6.158/6.12.111/6.18.53
Patch: f2268060e99f94314b9988dfa17393c2694fa9b2/358eca9a898ad4cce7453e9dcfd005d019a2b01f/05f79cea3b15cfe600b205ddcfd51ebee15d908a/a24417478f90e9f1a4ea24cd4b784afccb56fbae/0a63f98e5163a2ec2822dfb691ee5a6094de08ec/4f155d262b31b9b17e0f9856bdabe0968eb4930f

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 CVE reserved
10/23/2026 +28 days Advisory disclosed
10/23/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
10/23/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-98889 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-98889
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-425724

Entryinfo

Created: 10/23/2026 14:49
Changes: 10/23/2026 14:49 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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Discussion

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