Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A Linux Intel Wi-Fi driver flaw can read beyond an internal array if firmware reports an impossible third radio controller. The supplied CVSS score is 8.8 because successful triggering could affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Evidence does not establish how a nearby attacker could cause the malformed firmware report on real hardware.
Executive priority
Prioritize prompt inventory and vendor-supported patching on endpoints using the affected Intel Wi-Fi hardware. Treat exposed mobile and enterprise wireless systems first. The high score warrants attention, although urgency is moderated by the absence of known exploitation and an unproven practical attacker-controlled trigger path.
Technical view
The iwlwifi SMEM parser for 22000-series devices could access smem_cfg.lmac[2] when firmware reported three LMACs, overrunning the array. The kernel fixes reject that invalid count using IWL_FW_CHECK. The source identifies adjacent-network attack scope, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction, but provides no demonstrated attack chain.
Likely exposure
Potential exposure is limited to Linux systems using the affected iwlwifi code with relevant Intel 22000-series Wi-Fi hardware. The bundle names versions 5.8, 6.18.16, 6.19.6, and 7.0 as affected, but its version representation is incomplete or ambiguous. Distribution-specific package status requires vendor confirmation.
Exploitation context
The CVE is not listed as KEV, and the supplied sources provide no evidence of active exploitation or a public proof of concept. Triggering depends on firmware reporting a nonexistent third LMAC. Whether a nearby unauthenticated attacker can induce that condition is not established by the evidence.
Researcher notes
The core defect is a bounds violation caused by trusting an impossible firmware-supplied LMAC count. Researchers should distinguish theoretical CVSS reachability from demonstrated control of that value over an adjacent network. The supplied affected-version data appears ambiguous, so commit ancestry and distribution backports are more reliable than version labels alone.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory Linux systems using iwlwifi with Intel 22000-series Wi-Fi hardware.
- Check distribution advisories for vulnerable package ranges and fixed kernel packages.
- Apply a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable referenced stable fix.
- If updates are unavailable, request vendor-specific mitigation guidance and reassess Wi-Fi use.
Validation and detection
- Identify installed kernel versions and whether the iwlwifi driver is active.
- Confirm relevant hardware belongs to Intel's 22000 series.
- Map distribution kernel packages to the referenced stable commits or vendor advisories.
- After updating and rebooting, verify the fixed kernel is running.
- Review kernel logs for iwlwifi firmware or SMEM errors; absence alone does not prove safety.
Public sources used
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
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ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CVE-2026-43172 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- 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
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.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.85.9LinuxVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1d49a42717bdc8de77eabeb5b7d3e88d141ffea9CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2b4b1510aaaf5b9fb57327ecffc20c055f61f205CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/58192b9ce09b0f0f86e2036683bd542130b91a98CVE 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.