net: remove CAP_SYS_RAWIO zero-padding in dev_validate_header
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 5 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: remove CAP_SYS_RAWIO zero-padding in dev_validate_header dev_validate_header() reads dev->hard_header_len directly when zero-padding short link layer headers for CAP_SYS_RAWIO holders: if (capable(CAP_SYS_RAWIO)) { memset(ll_header + len, 0, dev->hard_header_len - len); return true; } Packet send paths call dev_validate_header() on skbs whose headroom was allocated from an earlier hard_header_len read. If the device is reconfigured so that dev->hard_header_len increases before validation, the memset writes past the reserved buffer, an out-of-bounds write. This out-of-bounds write is masked in some SOCK_RAW paths today because the same concurrent increase can first make skb_push() exceed the reserved headroom and trigger skb_under_panic(). Remove the zero-padding branch before making those hard_header_len reads consistent, so the snapshot fixes do not turn a loud panic into a silent overwrite. This path is only reached for variable length L2 protocols, where len < hard_header_len but len >= min_header_len. No remaining in-tree variable length L2 protocol implements header_ops->validate, and the CAP_SYS_RAWIO bypass that zero-pads and accepts short headers has no real value beyond allowing testing of intentionally malformed input. Drop the CAP_SYS_RAWIO branch. The remaining reads of dev->hard_header_len in dev_validate_header() are comparisons only and have no memory safety impact.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 3.2.80 to before 3.2.81; 3.16.36 to before 3.17; 4.1.28 to before 4.2; 4.4.8 to before 4.5; 4.5.2 to before 4.6 | 3.2.81, 3.17, 4.2, 4.5, 4.6 | Patch available | CNA |
| Linux | Linux | 4.6 and later | 3.2.81, 5.10.265, 5.15.216, 6.1.183, 6.6.152, 6.12.104, 6.18.45, 7.1.9, 7.2 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 3.2.80 to before 3.2.81; 3.16.36 to before 3.17; 4.1.28 to before 4.2; 4.4.8 to before 4.5; 4.5.2 to before 4.6 Fixed in 3.2.81, 3.17, 4.2, 4.5, 4.6 Patch available CNA
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 4.6 and later Fixed in 3.2.81, 5.10.265, 5.15.216, 6.1.183, 6.6.152, 6.12.104, 6.18.45, 7.1.9, 7.2 Patch available CNA
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 3.2.81, 3.17, 4.2, 4.5, 4.6
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 3.2.81, 5.10.265, 5.15.216, 6.1.183, 6.6.152, 6.12.104, 6.18.45, 7.1.9, 7.2
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-80731
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-534x-f2qc-fghv
- 2026-10-18 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-26 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-26 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-11-06 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Other 9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/53fd7f912c0877647d6a1e1877f5ea8535ee0b4a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fa6d98dd925e72fc028b26a0cbbff9d2f0601ff6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8fc9816404166a90ed8d544dc52482fafffb6d9f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b0f92a5731dc82556a9ae005cc35f71ab136307b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/99df6b7a713f96eda206680d100b76e15f9d9b69
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/74e035f07f53feca09e2352e77fccb09cad5e208
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dbb30dc943a93e083f1e531bfdc6779e57de40d0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fc902f52a02298c7432b2334c0c82a2885a1a8b6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3b9a324e646d3657a8d9806dfbfe4f3e4066e882
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Sources
- CVE-2026-80731 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-80731 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-534x-f2qc-fghv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-80731 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences