CVE-2026-98182: Linux kernel · wifi: mac80211: refuse to make a monitor active when it has no queue
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · fixed in b7b7d46ec4fa127767931938b282c361c0519af6 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
Rated Medium by Threat Radar's AI analysis · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 6% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in b7b7d46ec4fa127767931938b282c361c0519af6, abe15e643e576459469867758ae9c586a7bab95d, 46c223468537a05a404699771cd3e68532dab5e6 +1
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 6 Oct 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 Linux kernel to b7b7d46ec4fa127767931938b282c361c0519af6, abe15e643e576459469867758ae9c586a7bab95d, 46c223468537a05a404699771cd3e68532dab5e6 or 2b04d6556964ae9f89819b86a0a7801e39c3aae5.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
A fix is available in the Linux kernel commits identified by hashes b7b7d46ec4fa127767931938b282c361c0519af6, abe15e643e576459469867758ae9c586a7bab95d, 46c223468537a05a404699771cd3e68532dab5e6, and 2b04d6556964ae9f89819b86a0a7801e39c3aae5. Users should update to a kernel version including these fixes. No other mitigation is indicated.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's mac80211 wireless subsystem could cause a NULL pointer dereference in the ath9k driver when a monitor interface is activated without a transmit queue. This occurs because a monitor interface only receives a transmit queue if created active, but the kernel allowed setting the monitor flag on a down interface, resulting in a monitor with no queue. Attempting to activate such an interface leads to a kernel crash.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b7b7d46ec4fa127767931938b282c361c0519af6 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/abe15e643e576459469867758ae9c586a7bab95d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/46c223468537a05a404699771cd3e68532dab5e6 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2b04d6556964ae9f89819b86a0a7801e39c3aae5 (opens in a new tab)