CVE-2026-98341: Linux kernel · wifi: cfg80211: don't free driver-owned scan requests
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 2% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation 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
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 has been implemented to properly track driver ownership of scan requests and safely free them, eliminating the use-after-free condition. Users should apply the updated linux-aws kernel versions that include this fix. No additional mitigation steps are indicated.
Description
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's wifi cfg80211 subsystem was resolved. The issue occurs when a network interface goes down during an ongoing scan, causing asynchronous cancellation confusion that leads the driver to incorrectly believe it owns the scan request, resulting in a use-after-free condition. This vulnerability affects specific linux-aws kernel versions and has a CVSS score of 7.8.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-98341 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98341 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/dab68a74e90b8e07f08ed9deaa5884857a3cfe89 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/cf6da29d17994865f73ca70976495ea856909c63 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/dab68a74e90b8e07f08ed9deaa5884857a3cfe89 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e8c75736cfd0c6c87562cda2312e3fe5e2227955 (opens in a new tab)