Vulnerability · Published Mar 25, 2026 · Assigned by Linux
CVE-2026-23281wifi: libertas: fix use-after-free in lbs_free_adapter()
High 7.8
In plain English
A high-severity security flaw in Linux from Linux. There are no confirmed reports of exploitation so far. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 0.1% (higher than 3% of all known vulnerabilities). Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.
Official 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.
Affected packages & fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | linux | 6.1.170-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Debian:13 | linux | 6.12.85-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Debian:14 | linux | 6.19.8-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux | 5.15.0-186.196 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux | 6.8.0-136.136 | USN-8567-1 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux | 6.8.0-136.136 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-allwinner-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws | 5.15.0-1112.119 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-aws | 6.8.0-1061.64 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-aws | 6.8.0-1061.64 | USN-8595-2 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-aws | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.8 | 6.8.0-1061.64~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.8 | 6.8.0-1061.64~22.04.1 | USN-8595-3 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure | 5.15.0-1117.126 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure | 6.8.0-1063.71 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-azure | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.8 | 6.8.0-1063.71~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde | 5.15.0-1117.126 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde | 6.8.0-1062.69 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-azure-fde | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.8 | 6.8.0-1062.69~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-nvidia | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-nvidia-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp | 5.15.0-1112.122 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp | 6.8.0-1064.72 | USN-8567-1 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp | 6.8.0-1064.72 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-gcp | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.8 | 6.8.0-1064.72~22.04.1 | USN-8567-1 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.8 | 6.8.0-1064.72~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gke | 5.15.0-1108.114 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gke | 6.8.0-1059.67 | USN-8567-1 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gke | 6.8.0-1059.67 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gkeop | 5.15.0-1095.103 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gkeop | 6.8.0-1046.50 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gkeop | 6.8.0-1046.50 | USN-8567-1 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-136.136~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-ibm | 5.15.0-1106.110 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-ibm | 6.8.0-1061.62 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-ibm | 6.8.0-1061.62 | USN-8574-3 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-ibm-6.8 | 6.8.0-1061.62~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-ibm-6.8 | 6.8.0-1061.62~22.04.1 | USN-8574-3 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-intel-iot-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-intel-iotg | 5.15.0-1107.113 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-kvm | 5.15.0-1104.109 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency | 5.15.0-184.194 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency | 6.8.0-136.136.2 | USN-8574-2 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency | 6.8.0-136.136.2 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-136.136.2~22.04.1 | USN-8574-2 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-136.136.2~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia | 5.15.0-1107.108 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia | 6.8.0-1059.62 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia | 6.8.0-1059.62 | USN-8596-1 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.8 | 6.8.0-1059.62~22.04.1 | USN-8596-1 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.8 | 6.8.0-1059.62~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-lowlatency | 6.8.0-1059.62.1 | USN-8596-1 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-lowlatency | 6.8.0-1059.62.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 5.15.0-1064.66 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 6.8.0-1030.31 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 6.8.0-1030.31 | USN-8574-3 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra-igx | 5.15.0-1053.53 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-5.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.0 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.1 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle | 5.15.0-1109.115 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oracle | 6.8.0-1058.61 | USN-8574-2 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oracle | 6.8.0-1058.61 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-oracle | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.8 | 6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1 | USN-8595-1 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.8 | 6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-raspi | 5.15.0-1106.109 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-raspi | 6.8.0-1061.65 | USN-8665-1 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-raspi | 6.8.0-1061.65 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-raspi | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-riscv | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | linux-riscv | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.8 | 6.8.0-136.136~22.04.3 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-vmware | 6.8.0-1008.8 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-xilinx | 6.8.0-1033.34 | USN-8574-3 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-xilinx | 6.8.0-1033.34 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-xilinx-zynqmp | 5.15.0-1075.79 | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23281 |
Affected products (as reported)
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 954ee164f4f4598afc172c0ec3865d0352e55a0b – before b15e0fa7adb4de3a03aee9e6fc4d83e5cf0a65e4954ee164f4f4598afc172c0ec3865d0352e55a0b – before 09f3c30ab3b1371eaf9676a1b8add57bca763083954ee164f4f4598afc172c0ec3865d0352e55a0b – before 3f9dec4a6d95d7f1f5e9e9dfdfa173c053bba8dc954ee164f4f4598afc172c0ec3865d0352e55a0b – before 3c5c818c78b03a1725f3dcd566865c77b48dd3a6954ee164f4f4598afc172c0ec3865d0352e55a0b – before d0155fe68f31b339961cf2d4f92937d57e9384e6954ee164f4f4598afc172c0ec3865d0352e55a0b – before ed7d30f90b77f73a47498686ede83f622b7e4f0d954ee164f4f4598afc172c0ec3865d0352e55a0b – before a9f55b14486426d907459bced5825a25063bd922954ee164f4f4598afc172c0ec3865d0352e55a0b – before 03cc8f90d0537fcd4985c3319b4fafbf2e3fb1f0 |
| Linux | Linux | 2.6.24 |
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b15e0fa7adb4de3a03aee9e6fc4d83e5cf0a65e4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/09f3c30ab3b1371eaf9676a1b8add57bca763083
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3f9dec4a6d95d7f1f5e9e9dfdfa173c053bba8dc
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c5c818c78b03a1725f3dcd566865c77b48dd3a6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d0155fe68f31b339961cf2d4f92937d57e9384e6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ed7d30f90b77f73a47498686ede83f622b7e4f0d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a9f55b14486426d907459bced5825a25063bd922
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/03cc8f90d0537fcd4985c3319b4fafbf2e3fb1f0
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-784472.html