CVE-2026-90399 Linux CVE debrief

Who should care

Linux kernel maintainers, users, and administrators should assess exposure and apply patches from official sources to prevent potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability can be exploited due to a stride mismatch in mac_phy_caps_parse(), allowing for potential buffer overflow attacks. Verify Linux kernel versions and configurations for exposure, and monitor system logs for potential exploitation attempts.

Why it matters

The vulnerability in the Linux kernel can be exploited due to a stride mismatch in mac_phy_caps_parse(), allowing for potential buffer overflow attacks.

• Verify Linux kernel versions and configurations for exposure
• Apply patches from official sources
• Monitor system logs for potential exploitation attempts

Technical summary

The Linux kernel has a vulnerability in the ath12k_wmi_mac_phy_caps_parse() function, which can be exploited due to a stride mismatch in mac_phy_caps_parse(). This allows for potential buffer overflow attacks. The vulnerability has been resolved with a fix using kzalloc_objs(), ensuring allocation size and pointer stride consistency. Linux kernel maintainers and users should verify exposure and apply patches from official sources to prevent potential exploitation attempts. The fix ensures that the allocation size matches the stride of the structure, preventing buffer overflows.

Defensive priority

Linux kernel maintainers and users should verify exposure and apply patches.

Recommended defensive actions

• Verify Linux kernel versions and configurations for exposure
• Apply patches from official sources
• Monitor system logs for potential exploitation attempts
• Review compensating controls for exposed systems while remediation is scheduled and verified
• Check relevant monitoring, detection, and logs for exposed assets that need extra review
• Track exceptions, retest remediated assets, and close the item only after evidence is documented
• Confirm whether affected product deployments exist in managed environments and assign an owner for follow-up

Evidence notes

The CVE record and NVD entry provide details on the vulnerability in the Linux kernel, specifically in the ath12k_wmi_mac_phy_caps_parse() function. The vulnerability can be exploited due to a stride mismatch in mac_phy_caps_parse(), allowing for potential buffer overflow attacks. Linux kernel maintainers, users, and administrators should assess exposure and apply patches from official sources. The fix involves using kzalloc_objs() to ensure allocation size and pointer stride consistency, regardless of firmware length.

Sources and references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.