Unwritable skb header in Linux kernel pppoatm transmit path
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
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- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 4 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Linux kernel's pppoatm driver, in the pppoatm_send() function, adds an LLC header without ensuring that the packet header is writable. Packets can reach this path through PPP channel bridging without their header being unshared, and zero-length or non-linear frames can cause out-of-bounds reads. The Linux kernel from 5.11 is listed as affected.
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: pppoatm: ensure a writable skb header and linear data In pppoatm_send(), LLC encapsulation checks whether there is sufficient headroom for the 4-byte LLC header, but does not ensure that the skb header is writable. Normal transmit packets passing through ppp_start_xmit() have their header unshared via skb_cow_head(). However, packets can also reach pppoatm_send() via PPP channel bridging (PPPIOCBRIDGECHAN) without going through ppp_start_xmit(). Use skb_cow_head() to ensure both sufficient headroom and a writable header before pushing the LLC header. While at it: - Call pskb_may_pull(skb, 1) before inspecting skb->data[0] to prevent out-of-bounds reads on zero-length or non-linear frames (e.g. from bridging). - Defer SC_COMP_PROT protocol compression until after pppoatm_may_send() succeeds. This eliminates the temporary skb allocation on admission failure and completely removes the fragile "undo" heuristic at the nospace label, avoiding any risk of reading uninitialized headroom or performing an unbalanced skb_push().
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Update the Linux kernel to a stable release that contains the fix: 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.54, 7.2.8 or 7.3. Red Hat lists Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 as affected with no fix planned, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 and OpenShift Container Platform 4 and 5 as affected without a fix, with plan none available.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-30
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 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 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| 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: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
Timeline
- 2026-10-06 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98287
- 2026-10-06 Alias added: GHSA-m2p4-c77r-p2c7
- 2026-10-09 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-09 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-10-30 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-11-01 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Other 7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/208ccc4d08b1897451e9ba01c016bf93ff107966
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e6cd1bba7d113c15c00ac63671213a096fe4d686
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ffc448eb54f5ba80d4212c1e870cdb92b0f709fa
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8e66c5969acd859ba72fb0a7fa895623fc1b3769
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e2f5529b0016db7d34f411408607f5cf395a542e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/30992fe39e65589ed8e000425e088fa74994b811
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ecc7253683a3c55caa868ce0ee530fcb0044bd3c
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98287 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98287 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-m2p4-c77r-p2c7 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98287 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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