Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
mac80211: fix potential double free on mesh join
While commit 6a01afcf8468 ("mac80211: mesh: Free ie data when leaving
mesh") fixed a memory leak on mesh leave / teardown it introduced a
potential memory corruption caused by a double free when rejoining the
mesh:
ieee80211_leave_mesh()
-> kfree(sdata->u.mesh.ie);
...
ieee80211_join_mesh()
-> copy_mesh_setup()
-> old_ie = ifmsh->ie;
-> kfree(old_ie);
This double free / kernel panics can be reproduced by using wpa_supplicant
with an encrypted mesh (if set up without encryption via "iw" then
ifmsh->ie is always NULL, which avoids this issue). And then calling:
$ iw dev mesh0 mesh leave
$ iw dev mesh0 mesh join my-mesh
Note that typically these commands are not used / working when using
wpa_supplicant. And it seems that wpa_supplicant or wpa_cli are going
through a NETDEV_DOWN/NETDEV_UP cycle between a mesh leave and mesh join
where the NETDEV_UP resets the mesh.ie to NULL via a memcpy of
default_mesh_setup in cfg80211_netdev_notifier_call, which then avoids
the memory corruption, too.
The issue was first observed in an application which was not using
wpa_supplicant but "Senf" instead, which implements its own calls to
nl80211.
Fixing the issue by removing the kfree()'ing of the mesh IE in the mesh
join function and leaving it solely up to the mesh leave to free the
mesh IE.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 4.9.233 – < 4.9.309, 4.14.192 – < 4.14.274, 4.19.137 – < 4.19.237, 5.4.56 – < 5.4.188, 4.4.233 – < 4.5, 5.7.13 – < 5.8, 5.8 | 4.9.309 |
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | linux | 5.17.3-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 5.17.3-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 5.17.3-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux +1 | 5.15.0-37.39 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-aws | 5.15.0-1011.14 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure | 5.15.0-1010.12 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 5.15.0-1008.12 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gke | 5.15.0-1008.10 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-ibm | 5.15.0-1007.8 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-intel-iotg | 5.15.0-1008.11 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-kvm | 5.15.0-1010.11 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 5.15.0-1009.12 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-raspi | 5.15.0-1011.13 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +32 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux | 5.4.0-117.132 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-aws +1 | 5.4.0-1078.84 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-azure | 5.4.0-1083.87 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-azure-5.15 | 5.15.0-1008.9~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-bluefield | 5.4.0-1040.44 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +28 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-hwe-5.15 | 5.15.0-41.44~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-ibm | 5.4.0-1026.29 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-intel-iotg-5.15 | 5.15.0-1008.11~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-iot | 5.4.0-1004.6 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-kvm | 5.4.0-1068.72 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 | 5.15.0-42.45~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 5.4.0-1076.83 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-raspi | 5.4.0-1065.75 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux | 4.15.0-184.194 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-aws | 4.15.0-1133.143 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-aws-5.4 +1 | 5.4.0-1078.84~18.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-azure-4.15 | 4.15.0-1142.156 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-azure-5.4 | 5.4.0-1083.87~18.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +14 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp-4.15 | 4.15.0-1127.142 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-hwe-5.4 | 5.4.0-117.132~18.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-ibm-5.4 | 5.4.0-1028.32~18.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-kvm | 4.15.0-1119.123 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 4.15.0-1098.108 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-oracle-5.4 | 5.4.0-1076.83~18.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-raspi-5.4 | 5.4.0-1065.75~18.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
Show 7 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-realtime | 5.15.0-1014.14 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 20.04 LTS | linux-fips | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS | linux-aws-fips +1 | 5.4.0-1078.84+fips1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS | linux-azure-fips | 5.4.0-1083.87+fips1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS | linux-fips | 5.4.0-1054.61 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS | linux-aws-fips | 4.15.0-2072.76 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS | linux-azure-fips | 4.15.0-2053.58 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS | linux-fips | 4.15.0-1090.100 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp-fips | 4.15.0-2037.41 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 16.04 LTS | linux-fips | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | linux +2 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | linux-aws-hwe | 4.15.0-1133.143~16.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | linux-azure | 4.15.0-1142.156~16.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 4.15.0-1127.142~16.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe | 4.15.0-184.194~16.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 4.15.0-1098.108~16.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | linux-aws +1 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | linux-azure | 4.15.0-1142.156~14.04.1 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 9 | perf +29 | 5.14.0-162.6.1.el9_1 | RHSA-2022:8267 |
| RHEL 8 | perf +26 | 4.18.0-425.3.1.el8 | RHSA-2022:7683 |
Show 6 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 9.0 E4S | kernel-rt +12 | 5.14.0-70.163.1.rt21.235.el9_0 | RHSA-2026:1495 |
| RHEL 9.0 E4S | perf +28 | 5.14.0-70.163.1.el9_0 | RHSA-2026:1494 |
| RHEL 8.6 TUS | perf +17 | 4.18.0-372.177.1.el8_6 | RHSA-2026:1442 |
| RHEL 8.6 E4S | perf +25 | 4.18.0-372.177.1.el8_6 | RHSA-2026:1442 |
| RHEL 8.6 AUS | perf +17 | 4.18.0-372.177.1.el8_6 | RHSA-2026:1442 |
| RHEL 8.4 EUS Long Life | perf +17 | 4.18.0-305.184.1.el8_4 | RHSA-2026:1886 |
| RHEL 8.4 AUS | perf +17 | 4.18.0-305.184.1.el8_4 | RHSA-2026:1886 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP5 | kernel-64kb +6 | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLES 15 SP5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1.150500.6.47.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLES 15 SP4 | kernel-64kb +6 | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLES 15 SP4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLES 15 SP3 | kernel-64kb +7 | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLES 15 SP3 | kernel-default-base | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLES 12 SP5 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.12.14-122.258.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:01600-1 |
Show 18 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 15 SP5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1.150500.6.47.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP5 | kernel-docs +4 | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP4 | kernel-docs +4 | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP3 | kernel-default-base | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP3 | kernel-docs +5 | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1.150500.6.47.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.14.21-150500.13.91.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1176-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | kernel-source +1 | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.4 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.4 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.14.21-150400.15.115.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1183-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.3 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.3 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.3 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.14.21-150400.15.115.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1183-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.2 | kernel-default | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.2 | kernel-default-base | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.2 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.3.18-150300.205.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1194-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.1 | kernel-default | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.1 | kernel-default-base | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.1 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.3.18-150300.205.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1194-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP5_Update_25 | 1-150500.11.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP4 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP4 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP4_Update_38 | 1-150400.9.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP3 | kernel-default | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP3 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP3_Update_56 | 1-150300.7.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 SP5 | kernel-default | 4.12.14-122.258.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:01600-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 SP5 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP5_Update_68 | 1-8.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:01600-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP5 | kernel-64kb +5 | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1.150500.6.47.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP4 | kernel-64kb +5 | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP3 | kernel-64kb +6 | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP3 | kernel-default-base | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.3 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.3 | kernel-syms +3 | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 | kernel-syms +2 | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 | kernel-64kb +6 | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 | kernel-default-base | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
Advisories 13
- RHSA-2022:8267 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Oct 17, 2026
- RHSA-2022:7683 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Oct 17, 2026
- RHSA-2026:1886 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Aug 22, 2026
- RHSA-2026:1495 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Aug 22, 2026
- RHSA-2026:1494 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Aug 22, 2026
- RHSA-2026:1442 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Aug 5, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:1194-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:1176-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:1183-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:01600-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Apr 16, 2025
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/615716af8644813355e014314a0bc1e961250f5a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c1d9c3628ef0a0ca197595d0f9e01cd3b5dda186
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/273ebddc5fda2967492cb0b6cdd7d81cfb821b76
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3bbd0000d012f92aec423b224784fbf0f7bf40f8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5d3ff9542a40ce034416bca03864709540a36016
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/12e407a8ef17623823fd0c066fbd7f103953d28d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/582d8c60c0c053684f7138875e8150d5749ffc17
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/46bb87d40683337757a2f902fcd4244b32bb4e86
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4a2d4496e15ea5bb5c8e83b94ca8ca7fb045e7d3