In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
wifi: mac80211: fix NULL pointer dereference in mesh_rx_csa_frame()
In mesh_rx_csa_frame(), elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie is dereferenced
at lines 1638 and 1642 without a prior NULL check:
<pre>
ifmsh->chsw_ttl = elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie->mesh_ttl;
...
pre_value = le16_to_cpu(elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie->mesh_pre_value);
</pre>
The mesh_matches_local() check above only validates the Mesh ID,
Mesh Configuration, and Supported Rates IEs. It does not verify the
presence of the Mesh Channel Switch Parameters IE (element ID 118).
When a received CSA action frame omits that IE, ieee802_11_parse_elems()
leaves elems->mesh_chansw_params_ie as NULL, and the unconditional
dereference causes a kernel NULL pointer dereference.
A remote mesh peer with an established peer link (PLINK_ESTAB) can
trigger this by sending a crafted SPECTRUM_MGMT/CHL_SWITCH action frame
that includes a matching Mesh ID and Mesh Configuration IE but omits the
Mesh Channel Switch Parameters IE. No authentication beyond the default
open mesh peering is required.
Crash confirmed on kernel 6.17.0-5-generic via mac80211_hwsim:
BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000
Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI
RIP: 0010:ieee80211_mesh_rx_queued_mgmt+0x143/0x2a0 [mac80211]
CR2: 0000000000000000
Fix by adding a NULL check for mesh_chansw_params_ie after
mesh_matches_local() returns, consistent with how other optional IEs
are guarded throughout the mesh code.
The bug has been present since v3.13 (released 2014-01-19).