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

wifi: cfg80211: undo netns switch if renaming the wiphy fails

Once all the interfaces have been moved, cfg80211_switch_netns()
moves the wiphy itself by setting its network namespace and then
renaming it, which makes sysfs move it. The rename can fail (but
only on allocation failures), leaving things mixed up and hitting
the warning there.

Ignoring it isn't great, undo the move and let the change fail
in this case. If undo fails then WARN, then things would again
be stuck in two different network namespaces.
Published: 2026-10-14
Score: 5.5 Medium
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Potential Service Disruption
Action: Assess Impact
AI Analysis

Impact

This vulnerability occurs when the Linux kernel’s wireless configuration subsystem attempts to rename a wiphy after switching its network namespace. If the rename fails because of an allocation error, the kernel keeps the wiphy in the new namespace and leaves it in an inconsistent mixed‑namespace state, triggering a warning. The flaw is due to improper error handling and cleanup; it creates a residual inconsistency that can cause unstable networking or repeated warning messages. Based on the description, it is inferred that the kernel could suffer from repeated failures in namespace operations, leading to degraded wireless functionality.

Affected Systems

All Linux kernels that implement the buggy cfg80211 subsystem before the fix are affected. The vulnerability is not tied to a particular vendor or distribution, so any Linux operating system using a kernel that contains this implementation before the patch is at risk.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score is not specified, and the EPSS score is not available. The vulnerability is not listed in KEV. The flaw manifests as invisible state corruption rather than an externally exploitable flaw, so the likelihood of exploitation is uncertain. Based on the description, it is inferred that the attack vector would likely involve a local privileged user who can trigger dynamic wireless configuration changes. The risk is considered low to moderate until mitigation is applied.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on October 15, 2026 at 04:32 UTC.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Upgrade the kernel to a version containing the commit that restores netns cleanup behavior.
  • If a kernel upgrade is not immediately possible, limit dynamic wiphy renaming by configuring wireless interfaces statically or disable cfg80211 netns‑switching features if the distribution provides that option.
  • Monitor kernel log messages for WARN entries that indicate mixed‑namespace conditions and verify that wiphy objects remain in the correct network namespace after configuration changes.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on October 15, 2026 at 04:32 UTC.

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

No advisories yet.

History

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-252
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Low


Thu, 15 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-665
CWE-672

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: cfg80211: undo netns switch if renaming the wiphy fails Once all the interfaces have been moved, cfg80211_switch_netns() moves the wiphy itself by setting its network namespace and then renaming it, which makes sysfs move it. The rename can fail (but only on allocation failures), leaving things mixed up and hitting the warning there. Ignoring it isn't great, undo the move and let the change fail in this case. If undo fails then WARN, then things would again be stuck in two different network namespaces.
Title wifi: cfg80211: undo netns switch if renaming the wiphy fails
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

Subscriptions

Linux Linux Kernel
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-10-19T09:19:17.805Z

Reserved: 2026-09-25T10:25:14.348Z

Link: CVE-2026-98424

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-10-14T14:17:54.003

Modified: 2026-10-19T10:18:48.940

Link: CVE-2026-98424

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Low

Publid Date: 2026-10-14T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2026-98424 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-10-19T17:45:13Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-252

    Unchecked Return Value

  • CWE-665

    Improper Initialization

  • CWE-672

    Operation on a Resource after Expiration or Release