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CVE Record

CVE-2026-23246: wifi: mac80211: bounds-check link_id in ieee80211_ml_reconfiguration

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mac80211: bounds-check link_id in ieee80211_ml_reconfiguration link_id is taken from the ML Reconfiguration element (control & 0x000f), so it can be 0..15. link_removal_timeout[] has IEEE80211_MLD_MAX_NUM_LINKS (15) elements, so index 15 is out-of-bounds. Skip subelements with link_id >= IEEE80211_MLD_MAX_NUM_LINKS to avoid a stack out-of-bounds write.

HighCVSS 8.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A nearby wireless attacker could trigger a memory overwrite in affected Linux Wi-Fi systems by supplying an invalid multi-link identifier. Because the overwrite occurs in kernel stack memory, confidentiality, integrity, and availability may be at risk. The attack is proximity-limited, but requires no privileges or user action.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation for Linux laptops, access points, appliances, and embedded devices with relevant Wi-Fi functionality. Treat internet-only exposure as insufficient by itself because attack access is adjacent-network. Establish vendor patch status promptly, especially for unmanaged or slow-to-update wireless devices.

Technical view

mac80211 extracts a four-bit link_id, allowing values 0–15, from an ML Reconfiguration element. The destination array contains only 15 entries, so link_id 15 causes a stack out-of-bounds write. The Linux fix skips subelements whose link_id is at least IEEE80211_MLD_MAX_NUM_LINKS.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most plausible on affected Linux systems using the mac80211 Wi-Fi stack and processing ML Reconfiguration elements. The supplied record identifies affected kernel versions but does not clearly map every fixed release or distribution backport. Confirm status through the applicable Linux distribution or device vendor.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector describes adjacent-network access, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction. The supplied record is not marked as CISA KEV, and no cited source establishes active exploitation or a public exploit. Proximity and applicable Wi-Fi functionality constrain exposure.

Researcher notes

The defect is an off-by-one bounds failure: a valid four-bit value of 15 exceeds a 15-element array indexed 0–14. The documented correction rejects link IDs at or above the maximum. The supplied evidence does not establish reliable exploitation, demonstrated code execution, affected hardware breadth, or complete downstream version mappings.

Mitigation direction

  • Install a vendor kernel update containing the applicable referenced stable fix.
  • Check distribution or device-vendor guidance for CVE-2026-23246 and backport status.
  • Prioritize exposed Wi-Fi endpoints that use mac80211 and multi-link functionality.
  • If updates are unavailable, request vendor-supported mitigations; none are specified in the supplied sources.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across Wi-Fi-capable systems.
  • Determine whether affected systems use the mac80211 subsystem and relevant multi-link functionality.
  • Verify vendor package changelogs explicitly reference CVE-2026-23246 or a listed fix commit.
  • After updating, confirm the running kernel includes the vendor backport or applicable stable fix.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
7

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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.

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CVE-2026-23246 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
8.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
0ADP providers
6Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
8.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.85.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

8.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2026-23246Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux8eb8dd2ffbbb6b0b8843b66754ee9f129f1b2d6c, 8eb8dd2ffbbb6b0b8843b66754ee9f129f1b2d6c, 8eb8dd2ffbbb6b0b8843b66754ee9f129f1b2d6c, 8eb8dd2ffbbb6b0b8843b66754ee9f129f1b2d6c, 8eb8dd2ffbbb6b0b8843b66754ee9f129f1b2d6cunaffected
LinuxLinux6.5, 0, 6.6.130, 6.12.77, 6.18.17, 6.19.7, 7.0affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.