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CVE-2026-98549

Linux: tcp: prevent collapsing skbs across boundary in rtx queue

Linux LinuxOperating systems
CVSS
NoneNot scored
ExploitationNo known exploitationNot in CISA KEV, which does not prove it is unexploitedCISA KEV
Exploit odds (EPSS)0.13%Chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 2% of CVEs. Scored 23 Oct 2026FIRST EPSS
Fixed in9e2a2f98e8c0197108c6d97a1fa43bfd89071c30Also 1ae7aee395245874d797890380d9192bd858fb7e, 7ba87509c54cd519e7ed362e0c85e8431f066a18 and 1 moreCVE List
Published18 Oct 2026Updated 21 Oct 2026CVE List

What fixes it

  • 9e2a2f98e8c0197108c6d97a1fa43bfd89071c30LinuxCVE List
  • 1ae7aee395245874d797890380d9192bd858fb7eLinuxCVE List
  • 7ba87509c54cd519e7ed362e0c85e8431f066a18LinuxCVE List
  • 08e835f5ec6e261c79d8c39f8618b3af29e3b0daLinuxCVE 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:

tcp: prevent collapsing skbs across boundary in rtx queue

tcp_write_collapse_fence() sets TCP_SKB_CB(skb)->eor = 1 on tcp_write_queue_tail(sk) to prevent skbs queued after a switch to device encryption from being collapsed into earlier skbs.

The fence is a no-op if all earlier data has already been transmitted when the switch happens: sk->sk_write_queue is empty. The not yet acknowledged earlier skbs wait in sk->tcp_rtx_queue with eor 0.

On a subsequent retransmit or SACK shift, tcp_retrans_try_collapse() or tcp_shift_skb_data() can then merge an skb queued after the switch into one queued before it.

Both users of the fence are affected:

  • psp: devices only encrypt skbs with skb->decrypted set. The merged skb

keeps decrypted = 0 from the earlier skb, so merged data sent after psp_sock_assoc_set_tx() is retransmitted in cleartext.

  • tls device offload: the merged skb straddles the start marker set in

tls_set_device_offload(). The software fallback (fill_sg_in() returns -EINVAL) and the mlx5, nfp and funeth drivers cannot handle such an skb and drop it. Every retransmit rebuilds the same skb, so the connection stalls.

Fix this in two places, for defense in depth:

  1. Fall back to tcp_rtx_queue_tail(sk) in tcp_write_collapse_fence()

when tcp_write_queue_tail(sk) is NULL.

  1. Check !skb_cmp_decrypted(to, from) in tcp_skb_can_collapse(), as

tcp_skb_can_collapse_rx() does on receive. skb_shift(), which both collapse paths call, already has a DEBUG_NET_WARN_ON_ONCE() for this condition.

Text from CVE List

Affected versions 12

  • Linuxaffected: e8f69799810c32dd40c6724d829eccc70baad07f before 9e2a2f98e8c0197108c6d97a1fa43bfd89071c30CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: e8f69799810c32dd40c6724d829eccc70baad07f before 1ae7aee395245874d797890380d9192bd858fb7eCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: e8f69799810c32dd40c6724d829eccc70baad07f before 7ba87509c54cd519e7ed362e0c85e8431f066a18CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: e8f69799810c32dd40c6724d829eccc70baad07f before 08e835f5ec6e261c79d8c39f8618b3af29e3b0daCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: e8f69799810c32dd40c6724d829eccc70baad07f before fc6d80eb504458d6416b75a94188b268c95c6533CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 4.18CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: all versions before 4.18CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.6.160 through 6.6.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.12.112 through 6.12.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.18.55 through 6.18.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.2.9 through 7.2.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.3CVE List

References 5