In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

wifi: libertas: fix use-after-free in lbs_free_adapter()

The lbs_free_adapter() function uses timer_delete() (non-synchronous)
for both command_timer and tx_lockup_timer before the structure is
freed. This is incorrect because timer_delete() does not wait for
any running timer callback to complete.

If a timer callback is executing when lbs_free_adapter() is called,
the callback will access freed memory since lbs_cfg_free() frees the
containing structure immediately after lbs_free_adapter() returns.

Both timer callbacks (lbs_cmd_timeout_handler and lbs_tx_lockup_handler)
access priv->driver_lock, priv->cur_cmd, priv->dev, and other fields,
which would all be use-after-free violations.

Use timer_delete_sync() instead to ensure any running timer callback
has completed before returning.

This bug was introduced in commit 8f641d93c38a ("libertas: detect TX
lockups and reset hardware") where del_timer() was used instead of
del_timer_sync() in the cleanup path. The command_timer has had the
same issue since the driver was first written.
Advisories

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Fixes

Solution

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Workaround

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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: libertas: fix use-after-free in lbs_free_adapter() The lbs_free_adapter() function uses timer_delete() (non-synchronous) for both command_timer and tx_lockup_timer before the structure is freed. This is incorrect because timer_delete() does not wait for any running timer callback to complete. If a timer callback is executing when lbs_free_adapter() is called, the callback will access freed memory since lbs_cfg_free() frees the containing structure immediately after lbs_free_adapter() returns. Both timer callbacks (lbs_cmd_timeout_handler and lbs_tx_lockup_handler) access priv->driver_lock, priv->cur_cmd, priv->dev, and other fields, which would all be use-after-free violations. Use timer_delete_sync() instead to ensure any running timer callback has completed before returning. This bug was introduced in commit 8f641d93c38a ("libertas: detect TX lockups and reset hardware") where del_timer() was used instead of del_timer_sync() in the cleanup path. The command_timer has had the same issue since the driver was first written.
Title wifi: libertas: fix use-after-free in lbs_free_adapter()
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-03-25T10:26:41.844Z

Reserved: 2026-01-13T15:37:45.992Z

Link: CVE-2026-23281

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-03-25T11:16:22.657

Modified: 2026-03-25T11:16:22.657

Link: CVE-2026-23281

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses

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