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CVE-2026-98550

Linux: tipc: reject invalid and unexpected GRP_ACK_MSG to prevent bc_ackers underflow

Linux LinuxOperating systems
CVSS
NoneNot scored
ExploitationNo known exploitationNot in CISA KEV, which does not prove it is unexploitedCISA KEV
Exploit odds (EPSS)0.21%Chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 10% of CVEs. Scored 23 Oct 2026FIRST EPSS
Fixed in9b94a90651e1fa573c6ac6a5a6b269d5874df2c0Also 507a27435b2bb1f22e3a3674f6a6553eb815021b, 80a9ccfc24d3776ef6753a57315e726475fac7d7 and 3 moreCVE List
Published18 Oct 2026Updated 19 Oct 2026CVE List

What fixes it

  • 9b94a90651e1fa573c6ac6a5a6b269d5874df2c0LinuxCVE List
  • 507a27435b2bb1f22e3a3674f6a6553eb815021bLinuxCVE List
  • 80a9ccfc24d3776ef6753a57315e726475fac7d7LinuxCVE List
  • 478fb08d0c2a53002a721d22b8d6681ec971d90fLinuxCVE List
  • 12cc3a1eac5a2a06b67a7b85f0f48ff241a94d1bLinuxCVE List
  • 99cc2a62e07a44a22254d7beca9ef1f8ad886d0dLinuxCVE 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:

tipc: reject invalid and unexpected GRP_ACK_MSG to prevent bc_ackers underflow

Commit 48a5fe38772b ("tipc: fix bc_ackers underflow on duplicate GRP_ACK_MSG") rejected duplicate/stale ACKs in tipc_group_proto_rcv() by returning early when less_eq(acked, m->bc_acked).

However, that check remains incomplete in two ways:

  1. When grp->bc_ackers is zero (e.g. on a quiet group, when replicast

ACKs were not requested, or after all expected members have already acknowledged), an unexpected GRP_ACK_MSG with acked > m->bc_acked passes less_eq() and unconditionally decrements grp->bc_ackers. Because bc_ackers is a u16, this wraps to 65535, causing tipc_group_bc_cong() to permanently report congestion and blocking all future group broadcasts on the socket.

  1. During an active broadcast round (grp->bc_ackers > 0), the sender

transmits packet S and advances grp->bc_snd_nxt to S + 1. Receivers increment their expected counter to S + 1 upon consuming packet S, so the only valid ACK value for the current round is strictly acked == grp->bc_snd_nxt.

However, tipc_group_update_bc_members() initializes each member's m->bc_acked to prev = grp->bc_snd_nxt - 1 (S - 1 before increment). This leaves a 2-sequence gap (S - 1 to S + 1) in sequence space. An incoming ACK is therefore neither rejected as duplicate nor prevented from decrementing grp->bc_ackers if an unexpected or stale value (such as S) is received. A member sending acked = S followed by acked = S + 1 could decrement grp->bc_ackers twice in the same round, prematurely clearing bc_ackers or underflowing it.

Fix this by:

  • Dropping GRP_ACK_MSG immediately if grp->bc_ackers is zero.
  • Requiring acked == grp->bc_snd_nxt and rejecting duplicates where

m->bc_acked == acked. Because replicast broadcast rounds are strictly sequential, only grp->bc_snd_nxt can be acknowledged, and each member can acknowledge at most once per round.

Note that a related pre-existing issue in tipc_group_delete_member() (where grp->bc_ackers decrementing to zero upon member departure does not restore *grp->open or trigger a socket wakeup) will be addressed in a separate patch.

Text from CVE List

Affected versions 18

  • Linuxaffected: 2f487712b89376fce267223bbb0db93d393d4b09 before edc6593c442278fceff0120e8cc58bc592168c35CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 2f487712b89376fce267223bbb0db93d393d4b09 before 9b94a90651e1fa573c6ac6a5a6b269d5874df2c0CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 2f487712b89376fce267223bbb0db93d393d4b09 before 507a27435b2bb1f22e3a3674f6a6553eb815021bCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 2f487712b89376fce267223bbb0db93d393d4b09 before 80a9ccfc24d3776ef6753a57315e726475fac7d7CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 2f487712b89376fce267223bbb0db93d393d4b09 before 478fb08d0c2a53002a721d22b8d6681ec971d90fCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 2f487712b89376fce267223bbb0db93d393d4b09 before 12cc3a1eac5a2a06b67a7b85f0f48ff241a94d1bCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 2f487712b89376fce267223bbb0db93d393d4b09 before b0e517961f09b9f60d338d1ea4e17aacdbf206f0CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 2f487712b89376fce267223bbb0db93d393d4b09 before 99cc2a62e07a44a22254d7beca9ef1f8ad886d0dCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 4.15CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: all versions before 4.15CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 5.10.271 through 5.10.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 5.15.222 through 5.15.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.1.189 through 6.1.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.6.158 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 8