CVE-2026-74409: Linux kernel · wifi: rtw89: add bounds check on firmware mac_id in link lookup
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.8 High · fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.3% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 31% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1, 7.0.0-1017.17~24.04.1, 7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1 +11
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 15 Aug 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 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?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 patch is available and should be applied to affected Linux kernel versions to add the necessary bounds check on the mac_id field. Users should update to the fixed kernel versions as provided by their Linux distribution. No additional mitigation is indicated by the vendor advisory.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's rtw89 WiFi driver was fixed by adding a bounds check on the firmware mac_id used in link lookup. The mac_id field in RX descriptors is 8 bits wide (0-255), but the driver only supports 128 entries, and the firmware value was not validated before use as an array index. This could lead to out-of-bounds access. The issue affects specific Linux kernel versions and has been patched.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-74409 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6d88244bb129755acca696f9227200f4a2d106a6 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/920101305e7601a33b9e01019f4ca526af2526ae (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ad445de67359f24088d4305c05fbd7e34c4e35e3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-74409 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-74409 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/6d88244bb129755acca696f9227200f4a2d106a6 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8888-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8889-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8887-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8888-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8887-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8887-3 (opens in a new tab)