CVE-2026-68402: Linux Vulnerability (CVSS 7.1)

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: cfg80211: bound element ID read when checking non-inheritance cfg80211_is_element_inherited() reads the first data octet of the candidate element (id = elem->data[0]) to look it up in an extension non-inheritance list. It does so after testing elem->id, but without verifying that the element actually has a data octet. A zero-length extension element (WLAN_EID_EXTENSION with length 0) therefore makes it read one octet past the end of the element. _ieee802_11_parse_elems_full() runs this check for every element of a frame once a non-inheritance context exists -- e.g. while parsing a per-STA profile of a Multi-Link element in a (re)association response, or a non-transmitted BSS profile -- so a crafted frame from an AP can trigger a one-octet slab-out-of-bounds read during element parsing: BUG: KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds in cfg80211_is_element_inherited Read of size 1 ... in net/wireless/scan.c Return early (treat the element as inherited) when an extension element carries no data, mirroring the existing handling of empty ID lists. The bug was found by fuzzing ieee802_11_parse_elems_full() under KASAN.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

7.1/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H

EPSS Probability

0.26%

17.8th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Affected Software

Source: CNA advisory (CVE.org). NVD analysis pending.

Vendor	Product	Versions
Linux	Linux	>= f7dacfb11475ba777e1e84ccec2e14b0ba5a17a3, < 521dd5fe6d12b0d3c275f919738dc3a07117f4a5; >= f7dacfb11475ba777e1e84ccec2e14b0ba5a17a3, < 24154c172246ae3f0e69bb17c9111095685ceedc; >= f7dacfb11475ba777e1e84ccec2e14b0ba5a17a3, < 2d31ebb26a14f103c9cdc5287fb20cb2d4bde901; >= f7dacfb11475ba777e1e84ccec2e14b0ba5a17a3, < 20c308d9a57722801961f816395bf825f7bde6bc; >= f7dacfb11475ba777e1e84ccec2e14b0ba5a17a3, < 84bd907361c56fbd5523eceb2682cb39da059bd5; >= f7dacfb11475ba777e1e84ccec2e14b0ba5a17a3, < 11ac7a5e75f5132f1778e0c60981d30dc29fb869; >= f7dacfb11475ba777e1e84ccec2e14b0ba5a17a3, < ddf2773bcc8e49a43c561f22ec1e7924215d7947; >= f7dacfb11475ba777e1e84ccec2e14b0ba5a17a3, < cb8afea4655ff004fa7feee825d5c79783525383
Linux	Linux	5.2

References

Timeline

Published: Aug 10, 2026
Last Modified: Aug 19, 2026
Status: Received

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-68402?

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: cfg80211: bound element ID read when checking non-inheritance cfg80211_is_element_inherited() reads the first data octet of the candidate element (id = elem->data[0]) to look it up in an extension non-inheritance list. It does so after testing elem->id, but without verifying that the element actually has a data octet. A zero-length extension element (WLAN_EID_EXTENSION with length 0) therefore makes it read one octet past the end of the element. _ieee802_11_parse_elems_full() runs this check for every element of a frame once a non-inheritance context exists -- e.g. while parsing a per-STA profile of a Multi-Link element in a (re)association response, or a non-transmitted BSS profile -- so a crafted frame from an AP can trigger a one-octet slab-out-of-bounds read during element parsing: BUG: KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds in cfg80211_is_element_inherited Read of size 1 ... in net/wireless/scan.c Return early (treat the element as inherited) when an extension element carries no data, mirroring the existing handling of empty ID lists. The bug was found by fuzzing ieee802_11_parse_elems_full() under KASAN.

How severe is CVE-2026-68402?

CVE-2026-68402 has a CVSS score of 7.1/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.26% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2026-68402?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

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