CVE-2026-23396: Linux kernel · wifi: mac80211: fix NULL deref in mesh_matches_local() mesh_matches_local()
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 5.15.0-1112.119~20.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 1% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1112.119~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.2 +63
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 26 Mar 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A patch is available and should be applied to affected Linux kernel versions to fix the NULL pointer dereference in mesh_matches_local(). The patch adds a NULL check to prevent the crash. No other mitigations are indicated or necessary.
Description
A NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in the Linux kernel's mac80211 wireless subsystem was fixed. The function mesh_matches_local() did not check for a NULL mesh_config pointer when called from mesh_rx_csa_frame(), allowing an adjacent attacker to cause a kernel crash by sending a crafted CSA action frame missing the Mesh Configuration IE. This issue leads to a denial of service via kernel crash. A patch adding a NULL check was released to address this.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-23396 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-23396 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/c73bb9a2d33bf81f6eecaa0f474b6c6dbe9855bd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0a4da176ae4b4e075a19c00d3e269cfd5e05a813 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/44699c6cdfce80a0f296b54ae9314461e3e41b3d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7c55a3deaf7eaaafa2546f8de7fed19382a0a116 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a90279e7f7ea0b7e923a1c5ebee9a6b78b6d1004 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c1e3f2416fb27c816ce96d747d3e784e31f4d95c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c73bb9a2d33bf81f6eecaa0f474b6c6dbe9855bd (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8567-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8574-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8575-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8576-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8574-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8595-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8596-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8575-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8576-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8597-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8595-2 (opens in a new tab)