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Vulnerability · Published Apr 3, 2026 · Assigned by Linux

CVE-2026-23444wifi: mac80211: always free skb on ieee80211_tx_prepare_skb() failure

High 7.8

In plain English

A high-severity memory leak 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.

Severity (CVSS 3.1)7.8High
Exploit odds (30 days)0.1%top 96.6% of all CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo reportsCISA SSVC: none
Attack toolingNoneno public tooling known

Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mac80211: always free skb on ieee80211_tx_prepare_skb() failure ieee80211_tx_prepare_skb() has three error paths, but only two of them free the skb. The first error path (ieee80211_tx_prepare() returning TX_DROP) does not free it, while invoke_tx_handlers() failure and the fragmentation check both do. Add kfree_skb() to the first error path so all three are consistent, and remove the now-redundant frees in callers (ath9k, mt76, mac80211_hwsim) to avoid double-free. Document the skb ownership guarantee in the function's kdoc.

Affected packages & fixed versions

EcosystemPackageFixed inAdvisory
Debian:12linux6.1.176-1DEBIAN-CVE-2026-23444
Debian:13linux6.12.85-1DEBIAN-CVE-2026-23444
Debian:14linux6.19.10-1DEBIAN-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux5.15.0-186.196UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux6.8.0-136.136UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:25.10linuxno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-allwinner-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws5.15.0-1112.119UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-aws6.8.0-1061.64UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:25.10linux-awsno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.86.8.0-1061.64~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure5.15.0-1117.126UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure6.8.0-1063.71UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:25.10linux-azureno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.86.8.0-1063.71~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde5.15.0-1117.126UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde6.8.0-1062.69UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:25.10linux-azure-fdeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-6.86.8.0-1062.69~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-nvidiano fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-nvidia-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp5.15.0-1112.122UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp6.8.0-1064.72UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:25.10linux-gcpno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.86.8.0-1064.72~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gke5.15.0-1108.114UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gke6.8.0-1059.67UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gkeop5.15.0-1095.103UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gkeop6.8.0-1046.50UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.86.8.0-136.136~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-ibm5.15.0-1106.110UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-ibm6.8.0-1061.62UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-ibm-6.86.8.0-1061.62~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-intel-iot-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-intel-iotg5.15.0-1107.113UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-kvm5.15.0-1104.109UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency5.15.0-184.194UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency6.8.0-136.136.2UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.86.8.0-136.136.2~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia5.15.0-1107.108UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia6.8.0-1059.62UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.86.8.0-1059.62~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-lowlatency6.8.0-1059.62.1UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-tegra5.15.0-1064.66UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-tegra6.8.0-1030.31UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-tegra-igx5.15.0-1053.53UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-5.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.0no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.1no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.8no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oracle5.15.0-1109.115UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oracle6.8.0-1058.61UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:25.10linux-oracleno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.86.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-raspi5.15.0-1106.109UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-raspi6.8.0-1061.65UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:25.10linux-raspino fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-raspi-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:25.10linux-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscvno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-riscvno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:25.10linux-riscvno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscv-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.86.8.0-136.136~22.04.3UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-vmware6.8.0-1008.8UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-xilinx6.8.0-1033.34UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-xilinx-zynqmp5.15.0-1075.79UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23444

Affected products (as reported)

VendorProductVersions
Linux Linux 06be6b149f7e406bcf16098567f5a6c9f042bced – before 905ef207d5ed99ca64adfe39fba9ac46e434327a06be6b149f7e406bcf16098567f5a6c9f042bced – before 5ef8ca1c164786da24169af155c1ca1ff1353cf806be6b149f7e406bcf16098567f5a6c9f042bced – before 9a779d1f480e83720b5384adf165604e7ee226bd06be6b149f7e406bcf16098567f5a6c9f042bced – before f77b51bcee7be2bb686b5f7a2d4a1921e4bdb9f406be6b149f7e406bcf16098567f5a6c9f042bced – before 3b4d27acafaeab478fd24f79ad6e593a892828b906be6b149f7e406bcf16098567f5a6c9f042bced – before 06e769dddcbeb3baf2ce346273b53dd61fdbecf406be6b149f7e406bcf16098567f5a6c9f042bced – before 50f1b690b4868923fbd242298def2fb88662f10806be6b149f7e406bcf16098567f5a6c9f042bced – before d5ad6ab61cbd89afdb60881f6274f74328af3ee9
Linux Linux 3.13

Weakness: CWE-401 · Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

References