CVE-2026-98349: Linux kernel · wifi: libipw: reject too-short beacon and probe responses
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.1 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 15:59 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 15% 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:L/I:N/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
The vulnerability has been resolved in the Linux kernel. Users should apply the official kernel updates that include the fix rejecting too-short beacon and probe response frames before processing. Patch status is not explicitly confirmed in the provided data; therefore, check the vendor or distribution advisory for the exact fixed kernel versions and apply updates accordingly.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's wifi libipw driver allows processing of too-short beacon and probe response frames. The libipw_process_probe_response() and libipw_network_init() functions assume a full 36-byte frame prefix, but some receive paths only verify a 24-byte header, causing length miscalculations that lead to out-of-bounds reads. This flaw was identified through AI-assisted code review and verified via testing under Generic KASAN on arm64 in QEMU.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-98349 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98349 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/5ce5721e8cbe3e80db8f43851cc2a2a92485ef4b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/14ae269c1306053ddf1ccf37c4bd66e085a652d1 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/19959fb60228f6dccc40d55507f8b1a751c2dc89 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/23afeb5d2bdfd34c8a0a661876291a4fa9978293 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2c87bbc00dc93149d1dc4f803ad92d92e4ef3758 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5ce5721e8cbe3e80db8f43851cc2a2a92485ef4b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/89959ff00a978f3172726d3d5f861ee6f1aae26d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/cee6f141b3bebe62eb0363fd147acb52023935f0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ff756e6647722b7d225d882f7bdb186d8eee318e (opens in a new tab)