Memory Leak in Linux Kernel Affecting WiFi Functionality

CVE-2026-53258

What is CVE-2026-53258?

A memory leak issue occurs in the Linux kernel that affects the secure handling of WiFi functionality when the cfg80211_scan() fails during split 6 GHz scanning. The kernel fails to properly release memory referenced by rdev->int_scan_req, resulting in unreferenced objects persisting in memory. This situation could lead to performance degradation and increased memory usage over time. The bug was identified in the handling of scan requests, and has been addressed in recent updates. Administrators are recommended to apply the latest kernel patches to mitigate potential risks associated with this vulnerability.

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