CVE Catalog

CVE-2026-98591

Low risk· EPSS 9%
Published: Updated: Translated: NVD NIST

Exploitation Probability (EPSS)

Low risk
0.20%

9th percentile - higher than 9% of all known CVEs

Summary

In the Linux kernel, the skb_pointer_if_linear() function uses unsigned subtraction that can underflow, causing the bounds check to spuriously pass and generate an invalid pointer in skb-backed BPF dynptrs.

Risk Assessment

An invalid pointer may cause the BPF dynptr to reference invalid memory, potentially enabling privilege escalation or a kernel crash.

Recommendation

Update the Linux kernel to a version containing the fix that prevents underflow and overflow in the bounds check calculations.

Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

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Original NVD description (English source)

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Fix bounds check for skb-backed dynptrs The skb_pointer_if_linear() function checks whether a memory region of length len starting at offset off into the skb is in the linear area, and returns a pointer to the region if so. The check currently subtracts between skb_headlen and offset of the check, and since skb_headlen is unsigned the subtraction can underflow. This causes the bounds check to spuriously pass and generate an arbitrary pointer of the form *(skb->data + off). The only user of this helper is currently skb-backed BPF dynptr code. Returning the wrong pointer leads to the dynptr erroneously being backed with invalid memory. Ensure the subtraction cannot underflow, and fail the check if it would. Use u64 arithmetic to also prevent overflow when calculating (skb_headlen(skb) - off) since off is unsigned.

Vulnerability data from NVD (NIST) · CISA KEV · EPSS