Buffer Overflow in Linux Kernel WiFi Driver

Executive Summary

This is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel affecting the mt76 Wi-Fi driver, specifically the mt7915 chipset. The issue occurs in two functions, mt7915_mcu_bss_he_tlv() and mt7915_mcu_sta_bfer_tlv(), which check for HE (High Efficiency) Wi-Fi support before accessing HE PHY capabilities. The helper function mt76_connac_get_he_phy_cap() can return NULL if no matching capability is found, leading to a potential NULL pointer dereference when the code attempts to use this NULL value.

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Detection Guidance

This vulnerability affects the Linux kernel's mt76 wireless driver, specifically the mt7915 component. Detection involves checking if your system uses the affected driver version. Run: lsmod | grep mt7915 to verify if the module is loaded. Check kernel version with uname -r to confirm if it is vulnerable. Inspect kernel logs for related errors using dmesg | grep mt7915.

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Impact Analysis

This vulnerability could cause a system crash or instability if exploited, as it may lead to a NULL pointer dereference in the Linux kernel. Users running affected systems with mt7915 Wi-Fi chipsets might experience Wi-Fi disconnections, kernel panics, or denial-of-service conditions.

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Compliance Impact

This vulnerability does not directly affect compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, or similar standards. It is a local denial-of-service issue in the Linux kernel's WiFi driver (mt76) for mt7915 devices, caused by improper handling of HE capability lookups. No data exposure or privacy impact is indicated.

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Mitigation Strategies

Update your Linux kernel to a patched version that includes the fix for CVE-2026-68310. If using a distribution kernel, apply available security updates. For custom kernels, recompile with the latest mt76 driver patches. Temporarily disable the mt7915 module if an update is not immediately available by running rmmod mt7915.

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