Linux kernel iwlwifi: Missing length check in scheduled Wi-Fi scan
Summary
The Intel iwlwifi Wi-Fi driver in the Linux kernel builds probe requests for scheduled (background) Wi-Fi scans before checking that the information elements fit the fixed buffer. Oversized elements could overflow that buffer. An attacker with local, low-privileged access to the system could potentially corrupt kernel memory, which could lead to privilege escalation or a denial of service. The fix is included in the stable kernel releases listed below.
Affected
- Linux kernel from 5.11 (CNA range by commit; earlier versions are listed as unaffected)
- Branches 5.15, 6.1, 6.6, 6.12 and 6.18 are affected until their fixed stable releases
- Status of other versions: check kernel.org
Fixed in
- 5.15.222
- 6.1.189
- 6.6.158
- 6.12.111
- 6.18.53
- Upstream fix commits are listed in the sources; the distribution package versions are unknown.
Workaround
Unknown. No documented workaround. Unloading the iwlwifi driver or disabling Wi-Fi where it is not needed is an option, but this is not a vendor measure.
Exploitation
- Not known to be exploited in the wild.
- No CISA KEV entry found.
- No public proof-of-concept found.
Our recommendation
- Install the kernel update from your Linux distribution that includes the fix.
- Check which systems use Linux with Intel Wi-Fi hardware, especially shared machines where local users are not fully trusted.
- Use normal kernel update cycles (medium priority) and monitor your distribution's security tracker for fixed package versions.
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Linux stable tree commit a24417478f90 git.kernel.org
- Linux stable tree commit 05f79cea3b15 git.kernel.org
- Linux stable tree commit f2268060e99f git.kernel.org
- Ubuntu security tracker CVE-2026-98889 ubuntu.com
- OSV BELL-CVE-2026-98889 osv.dev
- Vulners CVELIST CVE-2026-98889 vulners.com
- Ratatoskr iwlwifi-fixes pull request ratatoskr.run
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 1 Nov 2026, 22:41.
Original description (NVD)
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: iwlwifi: mvm: fix sched scan IE sizing Scheduled scan built the probe request before iwl_mvm_scan_fits(), so oversized IEs could be copied into the fixed preq buffer before length validation. Move iwl_mvm_build_scan_probe() after the fits check. Also advertise max_sched_scan_ie_len using iwl_mvm_max_scan_ie_len() so userspace limits account for driver-inserted DS/TPC bytes.
NVD references (6)
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/05f79cea3b15cfe600b205ddcfd51ebee15d908a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0a63f98e5163a2ec2822dfb691ee5a6094de08ec
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/358eca9a898ad4cce7453e9dcfd005d019a2b01f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4f155d262b31b9b17e0f9856bdabe0968eb4930f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a24417478f90e9f1a4ea24cd4b784afccb56fbae
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f2268060e99f94314b9988dfa17393c2694fa9b2
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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