Linux Kernel Vulnerability in WiFi Operation Management

CVE-2026-97517

What is CVE-2026-97517?

A vulnerability has been identified in the Linux kernel related to the handling of WiFi beacon frames. Specifically, the nl80211 subsystem incorrectly processes HE (High Efficiency) operation elements. The vulnerability arises due to the failure to properly check the length of the HE operation element against its required size, leading to potential security risks in WiFi network integrity. This issue could allow attackers to manipulate WiFi communications, resulting in degraded performance or exposure to further attacks. Users are advised to update to the latest kernel version to mitigate this risk.

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