CVE-2026-74488
Received Received - Intake

Buffer Over-Read in mwifiex WiFi Driver

Vulnerability report for CVE-2026-74488, including description, CVSS score, EPSS score, affected products, exploitability, helpful resources, and attack-flow context.

Publication date: 2026-08-15

Last updated on: 2026-08-19

Assigner: kernel.org

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mwifiex: use the subframe length when parsing A-MSDU TDLS frames mwifiex_11n_dispatch_amsdu_pkt() splits an A-MSDU with ieee80211_amsdu_to_8023s() and walks the resulting subframes. For each subframe it passes the subframe data pointer to mwifiex_process_tdls_action_frame(), but pairs it with skb->len, the length of the A-MSDU parent, instead of rx_skb->len: rx_skb = __skb_dequeue(&list); rx_hdr = (struct rx_packet_hdr *)rx_skb->data; if (ISSUPP_TDLS_ENABLED(priv->adapter->fw_cap_info) && ntohs(rx_hdr->eth803_hdr.h_proto) == ETH_P_TDLS) { mwifiex_process_tdls_action_frame(priv, (u8 *)rx_hdr, skb->len); } The parent is not a valid description of that buffer, and may not be valid memory at all. ieee80211_amsdu_to_8023s() ends with if (!reuse_skb) dev_kfree_skb(skb); and it only sets reuse_skb when the parent is linear, is not a head_frag, and is being consumed as the *last* subframe. So when the parent does not qualify for reuse it has already been freed, and the read of skb->len is a use-after-free. When it is reused, skb->len is the length of the last subframe, applied to every earlier subframe, which over-states the buffer whenever an earlier subframe is shorter. The callee cannot absorb a wrong length, because it derives its own ceiling from the value it is given. Each frame type computes ies_len = len - sizeof(struct ethhdr) - TDLS_*_FIX_LEN; and the element walk is then bounded entirely against that ceiling, for (end = pos + ies_len; pos + 1 < end; pos += 2 + pos[1]) { u8 ie_len = pos[1]; if (pos + 2 + ie_len > end) break; so a too-large len moves end past the end of the subframe and the walk reads and copies beyond it. The A-MSDU layout is chosen by the sender, which makes the difference between the last subframe and a shorter earlier one remotely selectable. Reaching this requires TDLS support in firmware and the TDLS ethertype on the subframe. The other caller, mwifiex_process_rx_packet(), is correct: it passes a pointer and a length that describe the same region of the RX buffer. Pass rx_skb->len, the length of the subframe actually being parsed.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-08-15
Last Modified
2026-08-19
Generated
2026-09-04
AI Q&A
2026-08-15
EPSS Evaluated
2026-09-03
NVD
EUVD

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel *

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

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CWE ID Description
CWE-UNKNOWN

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Executive Summary

This vulnerability is in the Linux kernel's mwifiex WiFi driver. It involves incorrect handling of A-MSDU TDLS frames where the driver uses the wrong buffer length when processing these frames. Specifically, it passes the parent frame's length instead of the actual subframe length to a function, leading to potential use-after-free or buffer over-read issues.

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability is specific to the Linux kernel's mwifiex WiFi driver and requires TDLS support in firmware. Detection involves checking kernel logs for crashes or memory corruption related to mwifiex or TDLS frames. Commands like dmesg | grep mwifiex or journalctl -k | grep mwifiex may help identify issues.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability could allow an attacker within WiFi range to cause a denial-of-service (system crash) or potentially execute arbitrary code on affected systems. It requires TDLS support in firmware and the TDLS ethertype on the subframe, making exploitation conditional but still a serious risk.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability does not directly affect compliance with standards like GDPR or HIPAA as it is a low-level memory corruption issue in the Linux kernel's WiFi driver (mwifiex). It could potentially lead to unauthorized data access or system instability if exploited, which might indirectly impact compliance by compromising data integrity or confidentiality.

Mitigation Strategies

Update the Linux kernel to a patched version that resolves this issue. If using a vulnerable kernel, disable TDLS support in the WiFi driver or firmware if possible. Monitor vendor advisories for kernel updates addressing this CVE.

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