Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2024-26896 is a Linux kernel memory leak in the wfx Wi-Fi driver when starting access point mode. It can waste kernel memory over time and may affect availability on devices that use this driver. The sources do not show active exploitation, a CVSS score, or impact beyond the reported leak.
Executive priority
Prioritize as routine-to-accelerated kernel maintenance. It is not currently supported by sources as internet-exploited or critical, but devices using wfx AP mode could suffer reliability issues if memory leaks accumulate. Patch faster for embedded, branch, or appliance deployments where Wi-Fi AP availability matters.
Technical view
The issue is in Linux wifi wfx AP startup handling. Memory returned by ieee80211_beacon_get() was not released, with kmemleak showing leaked skb-related allocations from the AP start path. Linux stable commits are listed as fixes. The CVE record lists severity as unknown and includes an inconsistent CWE-125 classification despite the description being a memory leak.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux systems using the wfx Wi-Fi driver and starting AP mode through mac80211/cfg80211 tooling such as wpa_supplicant. General Linux servers without this driver or AP behavior are less likely to be affected. Confirm kernel branch and vendor backports before assuming exposure.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not indicate exploitation in the wild, and KEV status is false. The trigger context is AP startup in the wfx driver. The main plausible risk is local or operational availability degradation from leaked kernel memory, especially on constrained systems or repeated AP start cycles.
Researcher notes
Evidence is narrow: the CVE description identifies a missing release of memory allocated by ieee80211_beacon_get(), likely around wfx_set_mfp_ap(), and lists multiple Linux stable commit URLs. Version metadata in the bundle is not enough to determine exact downstream package exposure without vendor backport information.
Mitigation direction
- Update to a Linux kernel package containing the listed stable fixes.
- Check distribution or device-vendor guidance for backported kernel fixes.
- If patching is delayed, avoid AP mode on affected wfx-based systems where feasible.
- Monitor kernel memory usage on wfx devices until patched.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernels and identify systems with the wfx driver present or loaded.
- Confirm whether affected systems start Wi-Fi access point mode.
- Map installed kernel builds to vendor advisories or the listed stable commits.
- Review kmemleak or memory telemetry around AP start events.
Public sources used
- CVE Program
- CVE List V5
- Linux stable commit a1f57a0127b89a6b6620514564aa7eaec16d9af3
- Linux stable commit 3a71ec74e5e3478d202a1874f085ca3ef40be49b
- Linux stable commit 12f00a367b2b62756e0396f14b54c2c15524e1c3
- Linux stable commit dadbb5d29d6c5f571a50272fce8c1505a9559487
- Linux stable commit b8cfb7c819dd39965136a66fe3a7fde688d976fc
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-125: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2024-26896 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a1f57a0127b89a6b6620514564aa7eaec16d9af3CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3a71ec74e5e3478d202a1874f085ca3ef40be49bCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/12f00a367b2b62756e0396f14b54c2c15524e1c3CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dadbb5d29d6c5f571a50272fce8c1505a9559487CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b8cfb7c819dd39965136a66fe3a7fde688d976fcCVE reference, Linux
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Out-of-bounds Read
Out-of-bounds Read represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.