CVE-2026-68191
wifi: ath12k: fix NULL pointer dereference in rhash table destroy
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath12k: fix NULL pointer dereference in rhash table destroy When unbinding the ath12k driver, kernel NULL pointer dereferences occur in irq_work_sync() called from rhashtable_destroy(). Two hash tables are affected: 1. ath12k_link_sta hash table in ath12k_base 2. ath12k_dp_link_peer hash table in ath12k_dp The issue happens because the destroy functions are called unconditionally in cleanup paths, but the hash tables are only initialized late in their respective init functions. If the device was never fully started or if the init functions failed before initializing the hash tables, the pointers will be NULL. The issues are always reproducible from a VM because the MSI addressing initialization is failing. Call trace for ath12k_link_sta_rhash_tbl_destroy: RIP: irq_work_sync+0x1e/0x70 rhashtable_destroy+0x12/0x60 ath12k_link_sta_rhash_tbl_destroy+0x19/0x40 [ath12k] ath12k_core_stop+0xe/0x80 [ath12k] ath12k_core_hw_group_cleanup+0x6b/0xb0 [ath12k] ath12k_pci_remove+0x60/0x110 [ath12k] Call trace for ath12k_dp_link_peer_rhash_tbl_destroy: RIP: irq_work_sync+0x1e/0x70 rhashtable_destroy+0x12/0x60 ath12k_dp_link_peer_rhash_tbl_destroy+0x29/0x50 [ath12k] ath12k_dp_cmn_device_deinit+0x21/0x140 [ath12k] ath12k_core_hw_group_cleanup+0x6b/0xb0 [ath12k] ath12k_pci_remove+0x60/0x110 [ath12k] Fix this by adding NULL checks before calling rhashtable_destroy() in both destroy functions. The NULL check approach was chosen because the rhashtable pointer serves as the initialization state indicator. The init can fail at various points, leaving some components uninitialized. Checking the pointer directly is simpler than adding separate state flags that would need synchronization.
INFO
Published Date :
Aug. 10, 2026, 1:20 p.m.
Last Modified :
Aug. 17, 2026, 5:18 a.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
Source :
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Solution
- Update the Linux kernel to include the fix.
- Ensure hash tables are properly initialized before destruction.
- Verify driver unbinding does not cause NULL pointer dereferences.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2026-68191.
| URL | Resource |
|---|---|
| https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/17a4298f7794843af0094035723dc5e7311c7453 | |
| https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/70231dcd782201579990ded73e0435d18bb524ca |
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-68191 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-68191
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).
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2026-68191 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-68191 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.
-
CVE Modified by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Aug. 17, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Changed Affected [{'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '57ccca410237285f8f25a988655e6910cadc63f2', 'lessThan': '17a4298f7794843af0094035723dc5e7311c7453', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '57ccca410237285f8f25a988655e6910cadc63f2', 'lessThan': '70231dcd782201579990ded73e0435d18bb524ca', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/dp_peer.c', 'drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/peer.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '7.0'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '7.0', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.1.6', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '7.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.2-rc5', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/dp_peer.c', 'drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/peer.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}] [{'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '57ccca410237285f8f25a988655e6910cadc63f2', 'lessThan': '17a4298f7794843af0094035723dc5e7311c7453', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '57ccca410237285f8f25a988655e6910cadc63f2', 'lessThan': '70231dcd782201579990ded73e0435d18bb524ca', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/dp_peer.c', 'drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/peer.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '7.0'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '7.0', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.1.6', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '7.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.2', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/dp_peer.c', 'drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/peer.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}] -
New CVE Received by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Aug. 10, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Affected [{'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '57ccca410237285f8f25a988655e6910cadc63f2', 'lessThan': '17a4298f7794843af0094035723dc5e7311c7453', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '57ccca410237285f8f25a988655e6910cadc63f2', 'lessThan': '70231dcd782201579990ded73e0435d18bb524ca', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/dp_peer.c', 'drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/peer.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '7.0'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '7.0', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.1.6', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '7.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.2-rc5', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/dp_peer.c', 'drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/peer.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}] Added Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath12k: fix NULL pointer dereference in rhash table destroy When unbinding the ath12k driver, kernel NULL pointer dereferences occur in irq_work_sync() called from rhashtable_destroy(). Two hash tables are affected: 1. ath12k_link_sta hash table in ath12k_base 2. ath12k_dp_link_peer hash table in ath12k_dp The issue happens because the destroy functions are called unconditionally in cleanup paths, but the hash tables are only initialized late in their respective init functions. If the device was never fully started or if the init functions failed before initializing the hash tables, the pointers will be NULL. The issues are always reproducible from a VM because the MSI addressing initialization is failing. Call trace for ath12k_link_sta_rhash_tbl_destroy: RIP: irq_work_sync+0x1e/0x70 rhashtable_destroy+0x12/0x60 ath12k_link_sta_rhash_tbl_destroy+0x19/0x40 [ath12k] ath12k_core_stop+0xe/0x80 [ath12k] ath12k_core_hw_group_cleanup+0x6b/0xb0 [ath12k] ath12k_pci_remove+0x60/0x110 [ath12k] Call trace for ath12k_dp_link_peer_rhash_tbl_destroy: RIP: irq_work_sync+0x1e/0x70 rhashtable_destroy+0x12/0x60 ath12k_dp_link_peer_rhash_tbl_destroy+0x29/0x50 [ath12k] ath12k_dp_cmn_device_deinit+0x21/0x140 [ath12k] ath12k_core_hw_group_cleanup+0x6b/0xb0 [ath12k] ath12k_pci_remove+0x60/0x110 [ath12k] Fix this by adding NULL checks before calling rhashtable_destroy() in both destroy functions. The NULL check approach was chosen because the rhashtable pointer serves as the initialization state indicator. The init can fail at various points, leaving some components uninitialized. Checking the pointer directly is simpler than adding separate state flags that would need synchronization. Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/17a4298f7794843af0094035723dc5e7311c7453 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/70231dcd782201579990ded73e0435d18bb524ca