CVE-2026-23279
wifi: mac80211: fix NULL pointer dereference in mesh_rx_csa_frame()
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mac80211: fix NULL pointer dereference in mesh_rx_csa_frame() In mesh_rx_csa_frame(), elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie is dereferenced at lines 1638 and 1642 without a prior NULL check: ifmsh->chsw_ttl = elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie->mesh_ttl; ... pre_value = le16_to_cpu(elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie->mesh_pre_value); The mesh_matches_local() check above only validates the Mesh ID, Mesh Configuration, and Supported Rates IEs. It does not verify the presence of the Mesh Channel Switch Parameters IE (element ID 118). When a received CSA action frame omits that IE, ieee802_11_parse_elems() leaves elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie as NULL, and the unconditional dereference causes a kernel NULL pointer dereference. A remote mesh peer with an established peer link (PLINK_ESTAB) can trigger this by sending a crafted SPECTRUM_MGMT/CHL_SWITCH action frame that includes a matching Mesh ID and Mesh Configuration IE but omits the Mesh Channel Switch Parameters IE. No authentication beyond the default open mesh peering is required. Crash confirmed on kernel 6.17.0-5-generic via mac80211_hwsim: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000 Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI RIP: 0010:ieee80211_mesh_rx_queued_mgmt+0x143/0x2a0 [mac80211] CR2: 0000000000000000 Fix by adding a NULL check for mesh_chansw_params_ie after mesh_matches_local() returns, consistent with how other optional IEs are guarded throughout the mesh code. The bug has been present since v3.13 (released 2014-01-19).
INFO
Published Date :
March 25, 2026, 11:16 a.m.
Last Modified :
May 22, 2026, 12:37 a.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
Source :
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | MEDIUM | [email protected] |
Solution
- Apply the Linux kernel patch for mac80211.
- Ensure mesh_chansw_params_ie has a NULL check.
- Update to a patched kernel version.
Public PoC/Exploit Available at Github
CVE-2026-23279 has a 1 public
PoC/Exploit available at Github.
Go to the Public Exploits tab to see the list.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
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CVE-2026-23279.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-23279 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
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stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-23279
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
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The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2026-23279 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-23279 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
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Initial Analysis by [email protected]
May. 22, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CVSS V3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H Added CWE CWE-476 Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 6.19 up to (excluding) 6.19.7 *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 6.13 up to (excluding) 6.18.17 *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 6.2 up to (excluding) 6.6.130 *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 6.7 up to (excluding) 6.12.77 *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 5.11 up to (excluding) 5.15.203 *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 5.16 up to (excluding) 6.1.167 *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 3.13 up to (excluding) 5.10.253 Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/017c1792525064a723971f0216e6ef86a8c7af11 Types: Patch Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/22a9adea7e26d236406edc0ea00b54351dd56b9c Types: Patch Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2b5f282b1b7241ef624c3399a1cdff0bb1a3eeab Types: Patch Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/753ad20dcbe36b67088c7770d8fc357d7cc43e08 Types: Patch Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/be8b82c567fda86f2cbb43b7208825125bb31421 Types: Patch Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cc6d5a3c0a854aeae00915fc5386570c86029c60 Types: Patch Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f061336f072ab03fd29270ae61fede46bf8fd69d Types: Patch Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f5d8af683410a8c82e48b51291915bd612523d9a Types: Patch -
CVE Modified by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Apr. 18, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/753ad20dcbe36b67088c7770d8fc357d7cc43e08 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f061336f072ab03fd29270ae61fede46bf8fd69d -
New CVE Received by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Mar. 25, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mac80211: fix NULL pointer dereference in mesh_rx_csa_frame() In mesh_rx_csa_frame(), elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie is dereferenced at lines 1638 and 1642 without a prior NULL check: ifmsh->chsw_ttl = elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie->mesh_ttl; ... pre_value = le16_to_cpu(elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie->mesh_pre_value); The mesh_matches_local() check above only validates the Mesh ID, Mesh Configuration, and Supported Rates IEs. It does not verify the presence of the Mesh Channel Switch Parameters IE (element ID 118). When a received CSA action frame omits that IE, ieee802_11_parse_elems() leaves elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie as NULL, and the unconditional dereference causes a kernel NULL pointer dereference. A remote mesh peer with an established peer link (PLINK_ESTAB) can trigger this by sending a crafted SPECTRUM_MGMT/CHL_SWITCH action frame that includes a matching Mesh ID and Mesh Configuration IE but omits the Mesh Channel Switch Parameters IE. No authentication beyond the default open mesh peering is required. Crash confirmed on kernel 6.17.0-5-generic via mac80211_hwsim: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000 Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI RIP: 0010:ieee80211_mesh_rx_queued_mgmt+0x143/0x2a0 [mac80211] CR2: 0000000000000000 Fix by adding a NULL check for mesh_chansw_params_ie after mesh_matches_local() returns, consistent with how other optional IEs are guarded throughout the mesh code. The bug has been present since v3.13 (released 2014-01-19). Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/017c1792525064a723971f0216e6ef86a8c7af11 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/22a9adea7e26d236406edc0ea00b54351dd56b9c Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2b5f282b1b7241ef624c3399a1cdff0bb1a3eeab Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/be8b82c567fda86f2cbb43b7208825125bb31421 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cc6d5a3c0a854aeae00915fc5386570c86029c60 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f5d8af683410a8c82e48b51291915bd612523d9a