In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
wifi: mac80211: fix NULL pointer dereference in mesh_rx_csa_frame()
In mesh_rx_csa_frame(), elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie is dereferenced
at lines 1638 and 1642 without a prior NULL check:
ifmsh->chsw_ttl = elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie->mesh_ttl;
...
pre_value = le16_to_cpu(elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie->mesh_pre_value);
The mesh_matches_local() check above only validates the Mesh ID,
Mesh Configuration, and Supported Rates IEs. It does not verify the
presence of the Mesh Channel Switch Parameters IE (element ID 118).
When a received CSA action frame omits that IE, ieee802_11_parse_elems()
leaves elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie as NULL, and the unconditional
dereference causes a kernel NULL pointer dereference.
A remote mesh peer with an established peer link (PLINK_ESTAB) can
trigger this by sending a crafted SPECTRUM_MGMT/CHL_SWITCH action frame
that includes a matching Mesh ID and Mesh Configuration IE but omits the
Mesh Channel Switch Parameters IE. No authentication beyond the default
open mesh peering is required.
Crash confirmed on kernel 6.17.0-5-generic via mac80211_hwsim:
BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000
Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI
RIP: 0010:ieee80211_mesh_rx_queued_mgmt+0x143/0x2a0 [mac80211]
CR2: 0000000000000000
Fix by adding a NULL check for mesh_chansw_params_ie after
mesh_matches_local() returns, consistent with how other optional IEs
are guarded throughout the mesh code.
The bug has been present since v3.13 (released 2014-01-19).
wifi: mac80211: fix NULL pointer dereference in mesh_rx_csa_frame()
In mesh_rx_csa_frame(), elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie is dereferenced
at lines 1638 and 1642 without a prior NULL check:
ifmsh->chsw_ttl = elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie->mesh_ttl;
...
pre_value = le16_to_cpu(elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie->mesh_pre_value);
The mesh_matches_local() check above only validates the Mesh ID,
Mesh Configuration, and Supported Rates IEs. It does not verify the
presence of the Mesh Channel Switch Parameters IE (element ID 118).
When a received CSA action frame omits that IE, ieee802_11_parse_elems()
leaves elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie as NULL, and the unconditional
dereference causes a kernel NULL pointer dereference.
A remote mesh peer with an established peer link (PLINK_ESTAB) can
trigger this by sending a crafted SPECTRUM_MGMT/CHL_SWITCH action frame
that includes a matching Mesh ID and Mesh Configuration IE but omits the
Mesh Channel Switch Parameters IE. No authentication beyond the default
open mesh peering is required.
Crash confirmed on kernel 6.17.0-5-generic via mac80211_hwsim:
BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000
Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI
RIP: 0010:ieee80211_mesh_rx_queued_mgmt+0x143/0x2a0 [mac80211]
CR2: 0000000000000000
Fix by adding a NULL check for mesh_chansw_params_ie after
mesh_matches_local() returns, consistent with how other optional IEs
are guarded throughout the mesh code.
The bug has been present since v3.13 (released 2014-01-19).
Metrics
Affected Vendors & Products
Advisories
No advisories yet.
Fixes
Solution
No solution given by the vendor.
Workaround
No workaround given by the vendor.
References
History
Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:45:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mac80211: fix NULL pointer dereference in mesh_rx_csa_frame() In mesh_rx_csa_frame(), elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie is dereferenced at lines 1638 and 1642 without a prior NULL check: ifmsh->chsw_ttl = elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie->mesh_ttl; ... pre_value = le16_to_cpu(elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie->mesh_pre_value); The mesh_matches_local() check above only validates the Mesh ID, Mesh Configuration, and Supported Rates IEs. It does not verify the presence of the Mesh Channel Switch Parameters IE (element ID 118). When a received CSA action frame omits that IE, ieee802_11_parse_elems() leaves elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie as NULL, and the unconditional dereference causes a kernel NULL pointer dereference. A remote mesh peer with an established peer link (PLINK_ESTAB) can trigger this by sending a crafted SPECTRUM_MGMT/CHL_SWITCH action frame that includes a matching Mesh ID and Mesh Configuration IE but omits the Mesh Channel Switch Parameters IE. No authentication beyond the default open mesh peering is required. Crash confirmed on kernel 6.17.0-5-generic via mac80211_hwsim: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000 Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI RIP: 0010:ieee80211_mesh_rx_queued_mgmt+0x143/0x2a0 [mac80211] CR2: 0000000000000000 Fix by adding a NULL check for mesh_chansw_params_ie after mesh_matches_local() returns, consistent with how other optional IEs are guarded throughout the mesh code. The bug has been present since v3.13 (released 2014-01-19). | |
| Title | wifi: mac80211: fix NULL pointer dereference in mesh_rx_csa_frame() | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
|
|
Projects
Sign in to view the affected projects.
MITRE
Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2026-03-25T10:26:39.994Z
Reserved: 2026-01-13T15:37:45.992Z
Link: CVE-2026-23279
Vulnrichment
No data.
NVD
Status : Received
Published: 2026-03-25T11:16:22.333
Modified: 2026-03-25T11:16:22.333
Link: CVE-2026-23279
Redhat
No data.
OpenCVE Enrichment
No data.
Weaknesses
No weakness.