CVE-2026-89524: Linux kernel · wifi: ath6kl: clamp assoc request/response lengths before subtracting IE offsets
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.1 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 19% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 11 Sep 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?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 fix is available that clamps association request and response lengths before subtracting fixed IE offsets, preventing the integer underflow and memory disclosure. Users should apply the official Linux kernel patches that address this issue. Since this is a kernel vulnerability, updating to a patched kernel version is the recommended remediation. Patch status is not explicitly stated in the input; check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ath6kl WiFi driver allows an integer underflow in association request/response length handling. This underflow causes a u8 wraparound leading to disclosure of adjacent kernel memory to user space via nl80211. The flaw arises because fixed IE offsets are subtracted from lengths without a lower bound check. The issue has been resolved by clamping lengths before subtraction.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-89524 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3bbd05723d15dd06f0560bcd94fbf9a91b5f5613 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8eb73016fb3968cf2db3987a92764563a3af773a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e1330d719c047c4d8190a16be034b29fc601a815 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e3619bed5da125713b29ac881dc66f5e06606f88 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-89524 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-89524 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/3bbd05723d15dd06f0560bcd94fbf9a91b5f5613 (opens in a new tab)