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CVE-2026-98229

Linux: xfrm: save input state data before secpath resets

Linux LinuxOperating systems
CVSS
7.8High
ExploitationNo known exploitationNot in CISA KEV, which does not prove it is unexploitedCISA KEV
Exploit odds (EPSS)0.16%Chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 5% of CVEs. Scored 23 Oct 2026FIRST EPSS
Fixed in35de97850987b3d022ed17df5b2577242e746dafAlso 148db154066b066616b82c12d373e786eba1f96a, 537a5ae18b2be70f8eb0aca843682e81a69aab91 and 1 moreCVE List
Published6 Oct 2026Updated 19 Oct 2026CVE List

What fixes it

  • 35de97850987b3d022ed17df5b2577242e746dafLinuxCVE List
  • 148db154066b066616b82c12d373e786eba1f96aLinuxCVE List
  • 537a5ae18b2be70f8eb0aca843682e81a69aab91LinuxCVE List
  • 3cf5cdecd99c9c186a5ea518d93bbf3045b6e3aaLinuxCVE List

A fixed version on one release line is not the upgrade target for every line. Check your exact version and any vendor backports.

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

xfrm: save input state data before secpath resets

xfrm_input() stores the current xfrm_state in the skb secpath while it continues receive-side processing. Some input paths can reset that secpath before xfrm_input() has finished dereferencing the state.

Receive callback users such as VTI and XFRM interfaces can reset the secpath. The VTI receive path does so before checking whether the packet crosses network namespaces, while the XFRM interface path does so only for cross-network-namespace packets. The XFRM_MAX_DEPTH error path can also reset the secpath before the final drop callback reports the current state's protocol.

If secpath_reset() drops the last state reference while the state is concurrently deleted, xfrm_input() can still dereference the freed state when selecting transport_finish() or reporting the drop callback protocol.

Save the state protocol on the stack while the state is still valid, and use the already saved address family for transport_finish(). A larval XFRM_STATE_ACQ state has no type, so retain nexthdr as its protocol. This preserves the existing drop-path fallback while avoiding the post-reset state dereferences without adding an extra state reference to every received packet.

Text from CVE List

Affected versions 10

  • Linuxaffected: df3893c176e9b0bb39b28ab5ec8113fa20ad1ee0 before 35de97850987b3d022ed17df5b2577242e746dafCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: df3893c176e9b0bb39b28ab5ec8113fa20ad1ee0 before 148db154066b066616b82c12d373e786eba1f96aCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: df3893c176e9b0bb39b28ab5ec8113fa20ad1ee0 before 537a5ae18b2be70f8eb0aca843682e81a69aab91CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: df3893c176e9b0bb39b28ab5ec8113fa20ad1ee0 before 3cf5cdecd99c9c186a5ea518d93bbf3045b6e3aaCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 3.15CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: all versions before 3.15CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.12.112 through 6.12.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.18.54 through 6.18.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.2.8 through 7.2.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.3CVE List

References 4