CVE-2026-36355
Published: 05 May 2026
Description
The rtl8192cd Wi-Fi kernel driver in the Realtek rtl819x Jungle SDK (all known versions through v3.4.14B) does not perform any access control checks on the write_mem (ioctl 0x89F5) and read_mem (ioctl 0x89F6) debug handlers, which are compiled into production builds…
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via the unconditionally defined _IOCTL_DEBUG_CMD_ macro in 8192cd_cfg.h
Likely Mitigating ControlsAI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Automated marking applies security attributes to system outputs, making it harder for attackers to exploit unmarked sensitive information leading to unauthorized exposure.
Proper attribute retention and permitted-value enforcement limits unauthorized actors from accessing sensitive information lacking correct labels.
Prevents unauthorized exposure of sensitive information by prohibiting untrusted external systems from processing or storing it.
By enforcing authorization matching prior to sharing, the control reduces the risk of exposing sensitive information to unauthorized actors.
Review and removal of nonpublic information from publicly accessible systems directly prevents exposure of sensitive data to unauthorized actors.
Data mining protection mechanisms detect and block unauthorized bulk extraction of sensitive data, directly mitigating exposure to unauthorized actors.
Literacy training teaches users to recognize and avoid actions that result in unauthorized exposure of sensitive information.
Retaining and monitoring training records confirms personnel have completed privacy and security awareness training on handling sensitive data, reducing the chance of unauthorized exposure due to lack of knowledge.
Security SummaryAI
CVE-2026-36355 is a vulnerability in the rtl8192cd Wi-Fi kernel driver within the Realtek rtl819x Jungle SDK, affecting all known versions through v3.4.14B. The issue arises because the driver lacks access control checks on the write_mem (ioctl 0x89F5) and read_mem (ioctl 0x89F6) debug handlers, which are compiled into production builds via the unconditionally defined _IOCTL_DEBUG_CMD_ macro in 8192cd_cfg.h. This flaw is rated with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.7 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N) and is associated with CWEs 200, 782, and 787.
A local attacker can exploit this vulnerability with low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction required. Exploitation involves issuing the vulnerable ioctls to perform arbitrary memory reads and writes, potentially leading to high confidentiality and integrity impacts, such as exposing sensitive data or modifying critical kernel memory.
Advisories and further details are available from Realtek at http://realtek.com and the GitHub repository https://github.com/totekuh/CVE-2026-36355.
Details
- CWE(s)
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Arbitrary kernel memory read/write via unprotected debug ioctls from unprivileged local context directly enables exploitation for privilege escalation (T1068), credential access via kernel memory inspection (T1212), and OS credential dumping (T1003).