CVE-2026-46166: Linux kernel · wifi: mac80211: use safe list iteration in radar detect work
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.8 High · patch available : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 10% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 28 May 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
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux@7.0.0-28.28?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws@7.0.0-1008.8?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure@7.0.0-1009.9?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde@7.0.0-1008.8?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp@7.0.0-1008.8?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke@7.0.0-1003.4?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther 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 vendor-provided patch is available and should be applied to affected Linux kernel versions to remediate this vulnerability. The Ubuntu security advisory USN-8566-1 confirms that fixes have been released. Users should update to patched kernel versions as soon as possible to mitigate the risk.
Description
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's mac80211 WiFi subsystem was fixed. The issue occurs because the call to ieee80211_dfs_cac_cancel can cause the iterated channel context to be freed and removed from the list, leading to a slab-use-after-free error. This flaw has been addressed by using safe list iteration in radar detect work. The vulnerability affects multiple specific Linux kernel versions and has a high CVSS score of 8.8. A patch is available from the vendor.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-46166 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-46166 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/ac8eb3e18f41e2cc8492cc1d358bcb786c850270 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/120149fb3ebcf674832ca3cafd32bedcdb686dde (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7577a4b8a10fab45a6ee2045ea038a5adadbb585 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/887ece6c23b49d02a6678e7a8d5ad213d75883ce (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ac8eb3e18f41e2cc8492cc1d358bcb786c850270 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8566-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8568-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8569-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8593-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8603-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8618-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8663-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8664-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8728-1 (opens in a new tab)