Out-of-bounds read in Linux kernel cls_flower tunnel option parsing
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · 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
The Linux kernel net/sched cls_flower classifier is affected from 5.11, and from 5.10.11 before 5.10.273, until the fixed releases below. The fl_set_enc_opt() function advances the mask pointer after nla_next() without validating it, so a mask with trailing bytes makes parsing read past the mask payload. A local user with low privileges can trigger this out-of-bounds read, with high confidentiality and availability impact.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-01
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/sched: cls_flower: validate mask pointer after nla_next() fl_set_enc_opt() iterates the key's nested tunnel-option attributes with nla_for_each_attr() while advancing a single mask pointer via nla_next() at the bottom of each loop, so the mask cursor is driven by the number of key attributes rather than by the mask's own attributes. The nla_ok() added by commit c96adff956191 ("cls_flower: call nla_ok() before nla_next()") only validates the mask pointer that was just consumed; the pointer produced by nla_next() is used by the next iteration (fl_set_geneve_opt() and siblings) without any validation. The mask's nested attributes are validated with NL_VALIDATE_LIBERAL, which merely warns on trailing bytes that do not form a complete attribute. A mask carrying one valid attribute plus 1-3 residue bytes (or a non-aligned attribute length making msk_depth negative) therefore reaches the next iteration with msk_depth != 0, so neither the !msk_depth check in fl_set_enc_opt() nor the !depth check in the per-type helpers fires. nla_type() then reads past the mask payload and nla_parse_nested_deprecated() iterates with an nla_len taken from those bytes, reading well beyond the mask attribute (KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds read in __nla_validate_parse from fl_change()). Validate the advanced mask pointer as well: when the mask is not legitimately exhausted (msk_depth != 0) and the new pointer fails nla_ok(), reject the filter with -EINVAL. An exactly exhausted mask still skips the check, preserving exact-match behaviour for the remaining key attributes.
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 5.10.273, 5.15.224, 6.1.191, 6.6.161, 6.12.115, 6.18.59, 7.2.13 or 7.3, depending on the release branch. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, 9 and 10 and Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 and 5 are affected, with Red Hat's plan listed as none available.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-01
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.273
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.273, 5.15.224, 6.1.191, 6.6.161, 6.12.115, 6.18.59, 7.2.13, 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 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
- 2026-10-28 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-99112
- 2026-10-28 Alias added: GHSA-mhx6-cq85-vmgg
- 2026-10-29 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-29 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-30 Fix available: Linux/Linux@35354bf67aa0f7bace66ffb614906124ed50d59d, Linux/Linux@497944d534ffb1be300365523030c7c6517cbbb6, Linux/[email protected] +7 · CNA
- 2026-10-30 5 new references · CNA
- 2026-10-31 CVSS score added · CNA
- 2026-10-31 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Other 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a9283d006eef7e3b56f0f279a49bb63f6e5e61df
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/497944d534ffb1be300365523030c7c6517cbbb6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a55d84907337580d91c0d54779d9d4b934633158
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cff9bf34afde46c238189cc6f7690b7e35225df1
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/35354bf67aa0f7bace66ffb614906124ed50d59d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/45e60747a9db2307929260d9aa9c1c6cbb70ee77
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bb187146c7e5c666874784e4f3fc1bc5126e6e92
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fee10655709c5c597e8e9f722f3035d9ea31ff3a
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Sources
- CVE-2026-99112 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-99112 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-mhx6-cq85-vmgg · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-99112 · 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