CVE-2019-10126

What it actually does

Heap-based buffer overflow in mwifiex_uap_parse_tail_ies allows memory corruption when parsing crafted wireless information elements.

Why it matters to the business

Attackers may achieve full system compromise on affected Linux systems with Marvell WiFi hardware, resulting in data theft, ransomware deployment, or operational disruption across servers and endpoints.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker transmits malicious 802.11 management frames containing oversized or malformed tail IEs to a vulnerable wireless interface; the driver parses these in mwifiex_uap_parse_tail_ies, overflowing the heap buffer and enabling memory corruption or code execution.

How to fix it

Apply the latest Linux kernel updates from the distribution vendor to eliminate the buffer overflow in the mwifiex driver; reboot affected systems after patching.

How to confirm the fix worked

Confirm updated kernel versions are running, review wireless driver source for the patched parse function, and validate no crash dumps reference mwifiex_uap_parse_tail_ies.

Typical attack path

1. Locate systems exposing Marvell mwifiex wireless interfaces
2. Craft and send malicious 802.11 frames with oversized IEs
3. Trigger heap overflow during parsing
4. Corrupt memory to achieve code execution or denial of service

How to detect it

Search kernel logs and crash reports for mwifiex driver faults or memory corruption during wireless frame processing; correlate with unusual 802.11 management traffic.

What your security team should do

• Immediately patch all Linux kernels on systems using Marvell wireless hardware
• Disable wireless interfaces where patching is delayed
• Audit wireless-enabled hosts for exposure and prioritize high-value systems