Request socket misuse in Linux kernel IPv6 XFRM error handling
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: 7 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Linux kernel IPv6 XFRM local PMTU and error handlers assume the socket attached to a packet is a full socket. A TCP SYN-ACK can carry a request socket instead, so the handlers can read past its allocation. A local user with low privileges can trigger this when rerouting selects an XFRM tunnel route with a smaller MTU.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-30
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipv6: xfrm: use full sockets in local error paths xfrm6_local_rxpmtu() and xfrm6_local_error() dereference skb->sk as if it always pointed at a full IPv6 socket. That is not guaranteed. TCP SYN-ACK skbs can be owned by a TCP_NEW_SYN_RECV request_sock while the output path itself is driven by the full listener. If rerouting selects an IPv6 XFRM tunnel route with a lower MTU, the local PMTU/error handling path can reach these callbacks with that mini-socket still attached to the skb. The callbacks then miscast the request socket as a full inet/IPv6 socket and can read beyond the request_sock allocation when they access inet_sock or ipv6_pinfo state. Resolve the owner with skb_to_full_sk() in both callbacks and bail out when no full socket is attached. This matches the surrounding XFRM IPv6 PMTU/error logic, which already reasons about full sockets with skb_to_full_sk().
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
The Linux kernel is fixed in 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.54, 7.2.8 and 7.3. Red Hat rates this Moderate and lists Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 as no fix planned, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, 8, 9, 10, OpenShift Container Platform 4 and OpenShift Container Platform 5 with no plan available.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-30
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.54, 7.2.8, 7.3
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 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | 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 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-06 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98241
- 2026-10-06 Alias added: GHSA-5mfq-x364-3h2r
- 2026-10-07 CVSS score added · CNA
- 2026-10-10 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-10 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-10-30 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-11-03 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-11-03 CVSS score changed · Red Hat
References
Other 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b1a88633c36d2cbc3831382f3846754d344276fd
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/904a0e827d0d7189271a3a2eb648293809f25efc
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/675919e08ce266b8cac11fd9af29170e762a480f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/60459c670329d586a58db5d8f811fa5accfe4862
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ca3d68c3213475b53db6647e159dc73bd1af5ab1
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4c030a0400ebfd2318361c923a88103b2c67c49f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c21f3f7fbfeda7c5794f606cb0ffcc2d9001eef8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6973a21ee73c5567f883813c8ef414774b45892f
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98241 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98241 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-5mfq-x364-3h2r · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98241 · 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