CVE-2026-97599: Linux kernel · ieee802154: hwsim: serialize pib updates to fix double-free
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 9% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 25 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 proper locking and atomic pointer replacement in the hwsim driver to prevent double-free conditions. Users should apply the official kernel updates that include this patch. No additional mitigations are indicated by the vendor advisory.
Description
A double-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ieee802154 hwsim driver was fixed by serializing pib updates. The issue arises because hwsim_update_pib() performs an unserialized read-swap-free operation on phy->pib, which can race when called without the RTNL lock, leading to double-free and potential kernel memory corruption. The fix adds a lock to struct hwsim_phy and makes the pointer swap atomic.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-97599 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-97599 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/db6442deecb1f13aeaf4f9d77746ea7555630fb3 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9973b3a67a7592a780ea12b08334539a900deec1 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d3b8f264ce09573aededd0a97dc41c8147797d8f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/979d5b8de8ed4e1f997aef12da5694b99be7b871 (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97599 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e3b4681197aa026bd2d79358de5a3d62b76b04b9 (opens in a new tab)