[Bug 2173709] Re: ath9k_htc AR9271 USB Wi-Fi fails to come up on 6.8.0-149 ("Message too long"), works on 6.8.0-139

The wl module is Broadcom STA for the unused built-in Wi-Fi (wlp2s0). The failing device is the separate USB AR9271 on ath9k_htc. -- You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to linux in Ubuntu. Matching subscriptions: Bgg, Bmail, Nb https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2173709 Title: ath9k_htc AR9271 USB Wi-Fi fails to come up on 6.8.0-149 ("Message too long"), works on 6.8.0-139 Status in linux package in Ubuntu: New Bug description: Hardware: Atheros AR9271 USB Wi-Fi adapter (ath9k_htc, firmware htc_9271-1.4.0.fw), Ubuntu 24.04.5, 2014 Mac Mini. On 6.8.0-139-generic the adapter works normally. On 6.8.0-149-generic the firmware loads ("HTC initialized with 33 credits", "FW Version: 1.4") but the interface cannot be brought up: ip link set <iface> up returns "RTNETLINK answers: Message too long", and wpa_supplicant fails with "Could not set interface flags (UP): Message too long" / "Failed to initialize driver interface". An earlier attempt also produced a kernel oops in the driver. The only ath9k changes in 6.8.0-149.149 are "wifi: ath9k: reject short WMI command responses" (CVE-2026-98828) and "wifi: ath9k_htc: bound TX aggregation to MAX_TX_BUF_SIZE". I suspect one of these is rejecting replies from the AR9271 firmware. Not yet tested on 6.8.0-146–148. This is a regression: users have to choose between a working adapter and the CVE-2026-98432 fix, which is only in 149. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 24.04 Package: linux-image-6.8.0-139-generic 6.8.0-139.139 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.8.0-139.139-generic 6.8.12 Uname: Linux 6.8.0-139-generic x86_64 NonfreeKernelModules: wl AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version k6.8.0-139-generic. AplayDevices: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'aplay' ApportVersion: 2.28.3-0ubuntu0.1 Architecture: amd64 ArecordDevices: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'arecord' AudioDevicesInUse: Error: command ['fuser', '-v', '/dev/snd/controlC1', '/dev/snd/hwC1D0', '/dev/snd/pcmC1D8p', '/dev/snd/pcmC1D7p', '/dev/snd/pcmC1D3p', '/dev/snd/by-path', '/dev/snd/controlC0', '/dev/snd/hwC0D0', '/dev/snd/pcmC0D1p', '/dev/snd/pcmC0D0c', '/dev/snd/pcmC0D0p', '/dev/snd/seq', '/dev/snd/timer'] failed with exit code 1: Card0.Amixer.info: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'amixer' Card0.Amixer.values: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'amixer' Card1.Amixer.info: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'amixer' Card1.Amixer.values: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'amixer' CasperMD5CheckResult: pass CurrentDmesg: Error: command ['dmesg'] failed with exit code 1: dmesg: read kernel buffer failed: Operation not permitted Date: Sun Nov 8 22:36:43 2026 InstallationDate: Installed on 2025-10-01 (403 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-Server 24.04.3 LTS "Noble Numbat" - Release amd64 (20250805.1) MachineType: Apple Inc. Macmini7,1 ProcEnviron: LANG=en_GB.UTF-8 PATH=(custom, no user) SHELL=/bin/bash TERM=xterm-256color XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set> ProcFB: 0 i915drmfb ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.8.0-139-generic root=UUID=af466c7b-6c14-44fc-9013-df78fcb3b3f5 ro RelatedPackageVersions: linux-restricted-modules-6.8.0-139-generic N/A linux-backports-modules-6.8.0-139-generic N/A linux-firmware 20240318.git3b128b60.0ubuntu3.1 RfKill: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'rfkill' SourcePackage: linux UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) acpidump: dmi.bios.date: 01/13/2023 dmi.bios.release: 0.1 dmi.bios.vendor: Apple Inc. dmi.bios.version: 478.0.0.0.0 dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag# dmi.board.name: Mac-35C5E08120C7EEAF dmi.board.vendor: Apple Inc. dmi.board.version: Macmini7,1 dmi.chassis.type: 10 dmi.chassis.vendor: Apple Inc. dmi.chassis.version: Mac-35C5E08120C7EEAF dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAppleInc.:bvr478.0.0.0.0:bd01/13/2023:br0.1:svnAppleInc.:pnMacmini7,1:pvr1.0:rvnAppleInc.:rnMac-35C5E08120C7EEAF:rvrMacmini7,1:cvnAppleInc.:ct10:cvrMac-35C5E08120C7EEAF:skuSystemSKU#: dmi.product.family: Mac dmi.product.name: Macmini7,1 dmi.product.sku: System SKU# dmi.product.version: 1.0 dmi.sys.vendor: Apple Inc. To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/2173709/+subscriptions