CVE-2026-98827

wifi: ath9k_htc: bound TX aggregation to MAX_TX_BUF_SIZE

Published Oct 18, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.3 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

wifi: ath9k_htc: bound TX aggregation to MAX_TX_BUF_SIZE

__hif_usb_tx() dequeues up to MAX_TX_AGGR_NUM (20) frames into a
single tx_buf of MAX_TX_BUF_SIZE (32768) bytes, limiting the batch
by record count but never by cumulative byte length.

With large frames (MTU 2304), 20 aggregated frames of 2292 bytes
each exceed the allocation (20 * 2296 = 45920 bytes), so the
memcpy() in the loop writes up to 13152 bytes past tx_buf->buf
before usb_submit_urb().

Peek the queue head and stop before copying any record that would
cross MAX_TX_BUF_SIZE, then dispatch the current batch. Leftover
skbs remain queued and are drained on the next URB completion.

The byte bound changes the loop's exit semantics: it can now exit
before i == tx_skb_cnt - 1. Stock only finalized tx_buf->len on
that last index (len += offset), so an early break would submit a
URB holding only the last record's length while every dequeued skb
is freed on completion, silently dropping frames. Make tx_buf->len
a running total and advance tx_buf->offset per record instead; the
stride round_up(nskb->len + 4, 4) is identical to the stock stride
when the loop runs to completion.

Tested on hardware with an MTU 2304 flood: the loop stops at
record 15 (len = 32144, offset = 32144, within 32768), no
oversized URB is submitted, and MTU 1500 pings pass 20/20.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4850-1 linux-6.12 security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9018-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9018-2 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9019-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9020-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9022-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9023-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9024-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9025-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9026-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9039-1 Linux kernel (Azure CVM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9040-1 Linux kernel (Low Latency NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9066-1 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9091-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-119
Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-119
CWE-787
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath9k_htc: bound TX aggregation to MAX_TX_BUF_SIZE __hif_usb_tx() dequeues up to MAX_TX_AGGR_NUM (20) frames into a single tx_buf of MAX_TX_BUF_SIZE (32768) bytes, limiting the batch by record count but never by cumulative byte length. With large frames (MTU 2304), 20 aggregated frames of 2292 bytes each exceed the allocation (20 * 2296 = 45920 bytes), so the memcpy() in the loop writes up to 13152 bytes past tx_buf->buf before usb_submit_urb(). Peek the queue head and stop before copying any record that would cross MAX_TX_BUF_SIZE, then dispatch the current batch. Leftover skbs remain queued and are drained on the next URB completion. The byte bound changes the loop's exit semantics: it can now exit before i == tx_skb_cnt - 1. Stock only finalized tx_buf->len on that last index (len += offset), so an early break would submit a URB holding only the last record's length while every dequeued skb is freed on completion, silently dropping frames. Make tx_buf->len a running total and advance tx_buf->offset per record instead; the stride round_up(nskb->len + 4, 4) is identical to the stock stride when the loop runs to completion. Tested on hardware with an MTU 2304 flood: the loop stops at record 15 (len = 32144, offset = 32144, within 32768), no oversized URB is submitted, and MTU 1500 pings pass 20/20.
Title wifi: ath9k_htc: bound TX aggregation to MAX_TX_BUF_SIZE
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Oct 19, 2026, 9:26 AM
Reserved
Sep 25, 2026, 10:25 AM
Status
Received
Published
Oct 18, 2026, 4:17 PM
Modified
Oct 19, 2026, 10:19 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Oct 18, 2026, 12:00 AM