CVE-2026-97516: Linux kernel · wifi: rtw88: Add NULL check for chip->edcca_th in rtw_fw_adaptivity_result()
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.7 Medium.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 4% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:NExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 24 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 adds a NULL pointer check for chip->edcca_th in the rtw_fw_adaptivity_result() function of the Linux kernel's rtw88 driver. Applying this patch prevents the kernel oops caused by the NULL dereference. Users should update to a Linux kernel version containing this fix. Since the vulnerability is resolved by this patch, no additional mitigation steps are required.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's rtw88 WiFi driver was resolved by adding a NULL check for chip->edcca_th in the function rtw_fw_adaptivity_result(). The issue caused a kernel oops when devices with the 8821CE chip, which do not define edcca_th, dereferenced this pointer without validation. The fix prevents the NULL dereference and resulting kernel crash but does not address the underlying cause. This vulnerability affects specific Linux kernel versions listed and was tested to avoid regressions on other chips.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-97516 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-97516 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6fa23cafaf30f4877e357f8eebcff00dff4aa9cb (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1d1f250432cd8704c3c125168887f9724021c81a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d5e6f353ce1e1c25b8458ea390ed09d2377412c5 (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97516 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0b58a5ac9170a6f5e6425f8e1a4b3e1d9c2bf53d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a8cdb18ef80d67790d8611ba94ae3d81901c9e04 (opens in a new tab)