NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel - CVE-2026-23396
Published: March 26, 2026
Vulnerability identifier: #VU124643
CSH Severity: Medium
CVSS v4.0: CVSS:4.0/AV:P/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Green
CVE-ID: CVE-2026-23396
CWE-ID: CWE-476
Exploitation vector: Local access
Exploit availability:
No public exploit available
Vendor: Linux Foundation
Affected software:
Linux kernel
Linux kernel
Detailed vulnerability description
The vulnerability allows an attacker with physical access to cause a denial of service.
The vulnerability exists due to improper pointer dereference in the mesh_matches_local() function in the Linux kernel's mac80211 subsystem when handling Wi-Fi mesh action frames. An attacker with physical access can send a specially crafted CSA action frame that includes a valid Mesh ID IE but omits the Mesh Configuration IE to cause a kernel NULL pointer dereference, resulting in a system crash.
The vulnerability specifically affects Wi-Fi mesh mode processing and requires the attacker to be within radio range to transmit the malicious frame. No authentication or user interaction is required for exploitation.
How to mitigate CVE-2026-23396
Install security update from vendor's repository.
Sources
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0a4da176ae4b4e075a19c00d3e269cfd5e05a813
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/44699c6cdfce80a0f296b54ae9314461e3e41b3d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7c55a3deaf7eaaafa2546f8de7fed19382a0a116
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a90279e7f7ea0b7e923a1c5ebee9a6b78b6d1004
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c1e3f2416fb27c816ce96d747d3e784e31f4d95c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c73bb9a2d33bf81f6eecaa0f474b6c6dbe9855bd