CVE-2024-26693 is a denial-of-service (DoS) vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel's wireless driver stack, specifically within the Intel wireless driver (iwlwifi) component that manages Wi-Fi stations. The vulnerability arises due to improper handling of station allocation in the firmware when the system runs out of available station slots. When a large number of authentication frames are injected by an attacker, the Access Point (AP) crashes because the function iwl_mvm_is_dup() attempts to access per-queue duplication data (dup_data) that was never allocated. This occurs because the firmware has exhausted its station capacity and did not add the station, yet mac80211 (the Linux kernel's Wi-Fi subsystem) incorrectly assumes the station exists and marks sta_info::uploaded as 1. Consequently, ieee80211_find_sta_by_ifaddr() returns a valid station object, but the associated iwl_mvm_sta object is uninitialized. When the system receives packets (Rx) for this station, it triggers a kernel crash due to dereferencing uninitialized structures, resulting in a DoS condition. This vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions containing the affected commit hashes referenced, and it was publicly disclosed on April 3, 2024. No known exploits are reported in the wild yet, and no CVSS score has been assigned. The root cause is a logic flaw in station management between the firmware and mac80211, leading to inconsistent state and kernel panic under attack conditions.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to infrastructure relying on Linux-based wireless access points or devices using the Intel iwlwifi driver. The DoS attack can disrupt wireless network availability by crashing APs, potentially causing widespread connectivity outages in corporate, public, or industrial environments. This can affect critical services, especially in sectors like finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and government, where reliable wireless connectivity is essential. The disruption could lead to operational downtime, loss of productivity, and increased support costs. Additionally, in environments where wireless networks are used for security monitoring or IoT device connectivity, the DoS could indirectly impact safety and security systems. Although no data confidentiality or integrity compromise is indicated, the availability impact is significant. The lack of authentication or user interaction requirements for the attack vector (injection of authentication frames) means attackers within wireless range can exploit this vulnerability with relative ease, increasing the threat level for organizations with exposed or poorly segmented wireless networks.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should prioritize updating their Linux kernel to versions where this issue is patched as soon as updates become available. Since the vulnerability stems from the iwlwifi driver and mac80211 interaction, kernel updates from trusted Linux distributions that include the fix should be applied promptly. Network administrators should also implement wireless network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to untrusted devices and reduce the attack surface. Deploying wireless intrusion detection/prevention systems (WIDS/WIPS) can help detect and block abnormal authentication frame injection attempts. Additionally, organizations should monitor kernel logs for signs of crashes or unusual station allocation errors to identify potential exploitation attempts. For critical environments, consider temporarily disabling or restricting Wi-Fi access on vulnerable devices until patches are applied. Vendor coordination is essential to ensure firmware and driver updates are aligned. Finally, educating IT staff about this vulnerability and its exploitation method will improve incident response readiness.