---
id: "CVE-2026-98889"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-98889"]
title: "Linux kernel: iwlwifi scheduled scan can overflow a probe request buffer"
severity: "unknown"
cvss: null
epss: 0.00215
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["infrastructure", "intel-iwlwifi", "linux-kernel", "self-hosted", "wifi"]
not_affected_if: ["driver-not-loaded", "no-intel-wifi-hardware"]
published_at: "2026-10-23T12:18:22+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:33+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-25T12:38:50+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98889", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:33+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-98889", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-25T12:38:50+00:00"}]
---

# Linux kernel: iwlwifi scheduled scan can overflow a probe request buffer

In the Linux kernel's iwlwifi Wi-Fi driver, a scheduled scan copied oversized information elements into a fixed-size probe request buffer before the length check ran. The fix moves the probe build after the check and advertises a correct maximum IE length to userspace.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- unknown

## Fix

- Update the Linux kernel to a release that includes the upstream fix for iwlwifi mvm sched scan IE sizing.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T21:57:33+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98889
- 2026-10-25T12:38:50+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-98889

## From the sources

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

wifi: iwlwifi: mvm: fix sched scan IE sizing

Scheduled scan built the probe request before iwl_mvm_scan_fits(),
so oversized IEs could be copied into the fixed preq buffer before
length validation. Move iwl_mvm_build_scan_probe() after the fits
check.

Also advertise max_sched_scan_ie_len using iwl_mvm_max_scan_ie_len()
so userspace limits account for driver-inserted DS/TPC bytes.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_