CVE-2026-46180
Use-After-Free in Linux Kernel WiFi Driver
Publication date: 2026-05-28
Last updated on: 2026-05-28
Assigner: kernel.org
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| linux | linux_kernel | * |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-UNKNOWN |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
This vulnerability is a use-after-free issue in the Linux kernel's brcmfmac wifi driver. It occurs when the watchdog task stops between the send_sig() and kthread_stop() calls, which can lead to accessing memory that has already been freed.
The fix involves increasing the watchdog task's reference count before calling send_sig() and then properly dropping it by switching to kthread_stop_put(), preventing the use-after-free condition.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
A use-after-free vulnerability can lead to undefined behavior such as system crashes, data corruption, or potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.
In this case, exploitation could affect the stability and security of the Linux system's wifi functionality, possibly leading to denial of service or privilege escalation.