This is nearly always a result of the kernel driver returning invalid data, and is actually the driver segfaulting ... you'll probably find a matching oops in dmesg
** Changed in: wireless-tools (Ubuntu) Sourcepackagename: wireless-tools => linux-restricted-modules-2.6.17 -- iwlist can make network tools unusable when it crash https://launchpad.net/bugs/48276 -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs
