CVE-2026-98916: Linux kernel · wifi: nl80211: check link is beaconing for color change
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited.
Data as of 28 Oct 2026, 02:28 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 23 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 in the Linux kernel to check that the link is beaconing before performing a color change. Users should apply the updated kernel versions that include this fix to mitigate the vulnerability.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's wifi nl80211 component was addressed by adding a check to ensure the link is beaconing before performing a color change. This prevents the driver from being called with an invalid link state.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-98916 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98916 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/51423d370739aa3f701fdfbfcc52ecf321dfd71a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/55308cee9c2196f39cd1ce8ee6c1fed9e12a00d4 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/dc4713539da73d2d2c03d064b22b0e6ab38bd361 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e50965c702cfd41eb83464565f6272d4d4bfc00c (opens in a new tab)