Out-of-bounds read in Linux kernel net/sched text ematch
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 from 2.6.13 is affected in the net/sched text ematch (em_text) classifier. The netlink attribute parser accepts a text ematch algorithm name that has no NUL terminator, so the kernel reads past the array into adjacent memory when the module autoload path runs. An attacker with CAP_NET_ADMIN on a network namespace, including one created with unshare, can disclose kernel memory through the usermode helper command line.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-07
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/sched: em_text: reject unterminated algo before autoload This is a follow-up to commit 9c572a83037a ("net/sched: fix potential stack infoleak in em_text_dump()"), which zero-initialised the dump-side struct. Sashiko pointed at a pre-existing bug that exposed the change-side input-validation gap open. em_text_change() casts the raw netlink attribute payload to struct tcf_em_text and passes conf->algo, a 16-byte array with no enforced NUL terminator, to textsearch_prepare(). On the TS_AUTOLOAD retry textsearch_prepare() calls request_module("ts_%s", algo); vsnprintf() walks %s until it finds a NUL, so an algo[] with no NUL reads past the array into the adjacent struct fields and payload and feeds those bytes to the usermode helper command line. This is an out-of-bounds read and a kernel memory disclosure. Reject the attribute when no NUL exists within TC_EM_TEXT_ALGOSIZ bytes, matching the check xt_string has had since 3ab720881b6e. Conditions to recreate the bug: - CAP_NET_ADMIN on the target netns (namespace-local via unshare -Urn is enough) - install clsact on an interface, then add a basic filter with one text ematch whose algo[] is 16 bytes with no NUL (e.g. "A"*16) and pattern_len at least 1 - the add fails with -ENOENT and the kernel invokes modprobe with a module name made of "ts_" plus the 16 bytes and the adjacent payload
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 2.6.13 and later | 5.10.273, 5.15.224, 6.1.191, 6.6.160, 6.12.113, 6.18.57, 7.2.11, 7.3 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 2.6.13 and later Fixed in 5.10.273, 5.15.224, 6.1.191, 6.6.160, 6.12.113, 6.18.57, 7.2.11, 7.3 Patch available CNA
Remediation
Upgrade the Linux kernel to a fixed version: 5.10.273, 5.15.224, 6.1.191, 6.6.160, 6.12.113, 6.18.57, 7.2.11 or 7.3. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 has no fix planned. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 and Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 have no fix available.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-07
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.273, 5.15.224, 6.1.191, 6.6.160, 6.12.113, 6.18.57, 7.2.11, 7.3
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. 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 7 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5
Timeline
- 2026-10-23 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98969
- 2026-10-23 Alias added: GHSA-g75r-rwjf-jp26
- 2026-10-29 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-29 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-30 Fix available: Linux/[email protected], Linux/[email protected], Linux/[email protected] +3 · CNA
- 2026-10-30 3 new references · CNA
- 2026-11-07 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Other 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/64153f1dd14dabfd4e79bf506bb5b5d66f7b42eb
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b62fb105961b677418cbc0a0a8837a41735729ec
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b4da5c85cd701066ff429727fb61b84bde8bcce2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/00bcc303000bac524d62eed054d77372b38ace0f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/22182f91c6703af6e9832cffe6d22b381031cb5a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/85e5512369d4fe6e5f2c43712d9f9e01d4ae8437
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b627c6ba20be20334338229b4820baacb9d96826
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c9728fcf2e7fb4a7a8d08ebd9524c3b02ae1a021
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98969 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98969 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-g75r-rwjf-jp26 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98969 · 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