---
id: CVE-2026-98823
title: >-
  kernel: wifi: cfg80211: preserve hidden-group beacon IE ownership
  (CVE-2026-98823)
summary: >-
  A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's cfg80211 wireless subsystem. This issue
  allows an adjacent attacker within wireless range to cause a Denial of Service
  (DoS) by crashing the system. During a channel switch, the kernel improperly
  mana…
severity: medium
cvss: 5.3
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'
cvssSource: vendor
cwe: CWE-1341
vendor: Red Hat
product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
affected:
  - enterprise_linux 10
  - enterprise_linux 6
  - enterprise_linux 8
  - enterprise_linux 9
  - openshift_container_platform 4
published: '2026-10-18'
updated: '2026-10-23'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-23T20:25:33+00:00'
source: CSAF
sourceUrl: 'https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98823.json'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98823.json
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-98823'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2555230'
  - url: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98823'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98823'
  - url: >-
      https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/security/vulns.git/plain/cve/published/2026/CVE-2026-98823.mbox
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5617d5328839003c91007ce906b4f100b43926e9'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/49b66110a08e4f926f6393e938f226de2750a08b'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dd7973a4130b0862be38d7e08cc0e874b3d99967'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5f27581c176f84b52ec0ab9be7b500c10667ef60'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cc45f313d85533d647ce619326302aad6f797c14'
tags:
  - csaf
  - vex
  - red-hat
  - cve.org
epss: 0.00175
epssPercentile: 0.06975
ingestedAt: '2026-10-18T16:47:32.473Z'
---

## Overview

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's cfg80211 wireless subsystem. This issue allows an adjacent attacker within wireless range to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) by crashing the system. During a channel switch, the kernel improperly manages memory ownership when merging wireless scan entries that borrow beacon information elements (IEs). Releasing these entries can result in a double-free condition, leading to kernel memory corruption.

## Vendor advisories

- **Red Hat VEX** · Moderate · affected: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 · no fix planned: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, … · updated 2026-10-23 · [vex](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98823.json)

**kernel: wifi: cfg80211: preserve hidden-group beacon IE ownership** — rated Moderate by Red Hat. Released 2026-10-18, updated 2026-10-23.

Affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

No fix planned:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

Not affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7

## Remediation

Out of support scope