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…

Overview

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).

Affected

• linux_kernel >= 3.13, < 5.10.253
• linux_kernel >= 5.11, < 5.15.203
• linux_kernel >= 5.16, < 6.1.167
• linux_kernel >= 6.2, < 6.6.130
• linux_kernel >= 6.7, < 6.12.77
• linux_kernel >= 6.13, < 6.18.17
• linux_kernel >= 6.19, < 6.19.7
• linux_kernel = 7.0

Remediation

Upgrade past the affected range:

• linux_kernel 6.19.7