CVE-2026-74366
wifi: ath12k: fix NULL deref in change_sta_links for unready link
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath12k: fix NULL deref in change_sta_links for unready link _ieee80211_set_active_links() calls _ieee80211_link_use_channel() for each newly-added link and WARN_ON_ONCE()s if it fails. The call uses assign_on_failure=true, which allows mac80211 to continue despite driver failures, but when a mac80211-level channel validation fails (e.g., combinations check, DFS, or no available radio), drv_assign_vif_chanctx() is never reached. Since ath12k_mac_vdev_create() is only called from that path, arvif->is_created remains false and arvif->ar remains NULL for the failed link. The subsequent drv_change_sta_links() call reaches ath12k_mac_op_change_sta_links(), which allocates an arsta and sets ahsta->links_map |= BIT(link_id) for the broken link before checking whether the link is ready. When the vdev was never created, only station_add() is skipped, but the link remains in links_map. Any subsequent operation iterating links_map and dereferencing arvif->ar without a NULL check will crash. Two observed examples are NULL deref in ath12k_mac_ml_station_remove() on disconnect and in ath12k_mac_op_set_key() when wpa_supplicant installs PTK keys. BUG: Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at 0x00000000 pc : ath12k_mac_station_post_remove+0x40/0xe8 [ath12k] Call trace: ath12k_mac_station_post_remove+0x40/0xe8 [ath12k] ath12k_mac_op_sta_state+0xb60/0x1720 [ath12k] drv_sta_state+0x100/0xbd8 [mac80211] __sta_info_destroy_part2+0x148/0x178 [mac80211] ieee80211_set_disassoc+0x500/0x678 [mac80211] BUG: Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at 0x00000000 pc : ath12k_mac_op_set_key+0x1f8/0x2c0 [ath12k] Call trace: ath12k_mac_op_set_key+0x1f8/0x2c0 [ath12k] drv_set_key+0x70/0x100 [mac80211] ieee80211_key_enable_hw_accel+0x78/0x260 [mac80211] ieee80211_add_key+0x16c/0x2ac [mac80211] nl80211_new_key+0x138/0x280 [cfg80211] Fix this by checking arvif->is_created before calling ath12k_mac_alloc_assign_link_sta(). This prevents the broken link from entering links_map, so all subsequent operations iterating the bitmap are protected. The reliability of arvif->is_created across all error paths is ensured by the preceding patch. Tested-on: WCN7850 hw2.0 PCI WLAN.HMT.1.1.c5-00302-QCAHMTSWPL_V1.0_V2.0_SILICONZ-1.115823.3
INFO
Published Date :
Aug. 15, 2026, 6:22 a.m.
Last Modified :
Aug. 15, 2026, 6:22 a.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
Source :
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Affected Products
The following products are affected by CVE-2026-74366
vulnerability.
Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the
products
that
are
affected, the information is not represented in the table below.
No affected product recoded yet
Solution
- Check arvif->is_created before allocating station link.
- Ensure link creation status is reliable across error paths.
- Update the Linux kernel to include the fix.
- Apply the provided patch to the ath12k driver.
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-2026-74366.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-74366 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-2026-74366
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-2026-74366 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-74366 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.
-
New CVE Received by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Aug. 15, 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': 'a27fa6148dacc79451e523c2694bc0a673b1be05', 'lessThan': 'cfcea221db933295bf2cd75a7f80d441c7a51e28', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'a27fa6148dacc79451e523c2694bc0a673b1be05', 'lessThan': '5f5be2aa3b6d730c51dd4f8b432f2ad72823e63f', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'a27fa6148dacc79451e523c2694bc0a673b1be05', 'lessThan': '47809a7c8348bc4a332ccc26a37c7145a5f609f8', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/mac.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '6.14'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '6.14', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.18.40', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.18.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.1.5', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '7.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.2-rc1', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/mac.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}] Added Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath12k: fix NULL deref in change_sta_links for unready link _ieee80211_set_active_links() calls _ieee80211_link_use_channel() for each newly-added link and WARN_ON_ONCE()s if it fails. The call uses assign_on_failure=true, which allows mac80211 to continue despite driver failures, but when a mac80211-level channel validation fails (e.g., combinations check, DFS, or no available radio), drv_assign_vif_chanctx() is never reached. Since ath12k_mac_vdev_create() is only called from that path, arvif->is_created remains false and arvif->ar remains NULL for the failed link. The subsequent drv_change_sta_links() call reaches ath12k_mac_op_change_sta_links(), which allocates an arsta and sets ahsta->links_map |= BIT(link_id) for the broken link before checking whether the link is ready. When the vdev was never created, only station_add() is skipped, but the link remains in links_map. Any subsequent operation iterating links_map and dereferencing arvif->ar without a NULL check will crash. Two observed examples are NULL deref in ath12k_mac_ml_station_remove() on disconnect and in ath12k_mac_op_set_key() when wpa_supplicant installs PTK keys. BUG: Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at 0x00000000 pc : ath12k_mac_station_post_remove+0x40/0xe8 [ath12k] Call trace: ath12k_mac_station_post_remove+0x40/0xe8 [ath12k] ath12k_mac_op_sta_state+0xb60/0x1720 [ath12k] drv_sta_state+0x100/0xbd8 [mac80211] __sta_info_destroy_part2+0x148/0x178 [mac80211] ieee80211_set_disassoc+0x500/0x678 [mac80211] BUG: Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at 0x00000000 pc : ath12k_mac_op_set_key+0x1f8/0x2c0 [ath12k] Call trace: ath12k_mac_op_set_key+0x1f8/0x2c0 [ath12k] drv_set_key+0x70/0x100 [mac80211] ieee80211_key_enable_hw_accel+0x78/0x260 [mac80211] ieee80211_add_key+0x16c/0x2ac [mac80211] nl80211_new_key+0x138/0x280 [cfg80211] Fix this by checking arvif->is_created before calling ath12k_mac_alloc_assign_link_sta(). This prevents the broken link from entering links_map, so all subsequent operations iterating the bitmap are protected. The reliability of arvif->is_created across all error paths is ensured by the preceding patch. Tested-on: WCN7850 hw2.0 PCI WLAN.HMT.1.1.c5-00302-QCAHMTSWPL_V1.0_V2.0_SILICONZ-1.115823.3 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/47809a7c8348bc4a332ccc26a37c7145a5f609f8 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5f5be2aa3b6d730c51dd4f8b432f2ad72823e63f Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cfcea221db933295bf2cd75a7f80d441c7a51e28