CVE-2026-23444

EUVD-2026-18688
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

wifi: mac80211: always free skb on ieee80211_tx_prepare_skb() failure

ieee80211_tx_prepare_skb() has three error paths, but only two of them
free the skb. The first error path (ieee80211_tx_prepare() returning
TX_DROP) does not free it, while invoke_tx_handlers() failure and the
fragmentation check both do.

Add kfree_skb() to the first error path so all three are consistent,
and remove the now-redundant frees in callers (ath9k, mt76,
mac80211_hwsim) to avoid double-free.

Document the skb ownership guarantee in the function's kdoc.
ProviderTypeBase ScoreAtk. VectorAtk. ComplexityPriv. RequiredVector
NISTPrimary
7.8 HIGH
LOCAL
LOW
LOW
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Base Score
CVSS 3.x
EPSS Score
Percentile: 3%
Affected Products (NVD)
VendorProductVersion
linuxlinux_kernel
3.13.1 ≤
𝑥
< 6.18.20
linuxlinux_kernel
6.19 ≤
𝑥
< 6.19.10
linuxlinux_kernel
3.13
linuxlinux_kernel
7.0:rc1
linuxlinux_kernel
7.0:rc2
linuxlinux_kernel
7.0:rc3
linuxlinux_kernel
7.0:rc4
linuxlinux_kernel
7.0:rc5
linuxlinux_kernel
7.0:rc6
linuxlinux_kernel
7.0:rc7
𝑥
= Vulnerable software versions
Debian logo
Debian Releases
Debian Product
Codename
linux
bookworm
vulnerable
bookworm (security)
vulnerable
bullseye
vulnerable
bullseye (security)
vulnerable
forky
7.0.7-1
fixed
sid
7.0.7-1
fixed
trixie
6.12.86-1
fixed
trixie (security)
6.12.88-1
fixed