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Linux Kernel EUVDEUVD-2026-95538

| CVE-2026-98383 HIGH
2026-10-09 Linux GHSA-ph4x-4wh2-2qrm
7.8
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: Linux
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Gain local privilege to load BPF (CAP_NET_ADMIN/CAP_BPF)
  2. Delivery
    Configure LWT_SEG6LOCAL seg6 route with BPF program
  3. Exploit
    Call bpf_lwt_seg6_adjust_srh() to invalidate cached SRH
  4. Execution
    Call bpf_skb_pull_data() to reallocate skb->head
  5. Impact
    Kernel writes through dangling SRH pointer, corrupting memory

Vulnerability Assessment

Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires the host to be running an LWT_SEG6LOCAL (IPv6 Segment Routing Header, SRv6) route with an attached BPF program, and the attacker must be able to load/attach such a BPF program and configure the seg6local route - operations normally requiring CAP_NET_ADMIN/CAP_BPF (effectively a local, privileged operation, consistent with AV:L). The specific unsafe sequence is calling bpf_lwt_seg6_adjust_srh() (invalidating the cached SRH) followed by bpf_skb_pull_data() within the same program. Limiting factors: the IPv6 segment-routing / SEG6 LWT feature must be in use (a non-default, niche configuration on most systems); it is not remotely reachable by an unauthenticated network attacker; and the issue is confined to LWT_SEG6LOCAL programs - other LWT program types continue to expose the helper and are not affected by this restriction.

Impact

Signals are consistent and point to a genuine-but-bounded local kernel issue rather than a mass-exploitation emergency. The supplied CVSS vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, 7.8) describes local, low-complexity access with some privilege required and high impact to all three of confidentiality, integrity and availability - consistent with a kernel-memory-corruption bug. EPSS is low at 0.16% (5th percentile) and there is no CISA KEV listing and no confirmed public exploit, so there is no evidence of active or imminent widespread exploitation. The vuln.today decision label is 'this_week', which aligns with the low-but-nonzero exploitation probability and the fact that a fix is already shipped. No SSVC fields (exploitation/automatable/technical impact) were supplied, so that framework cannot be evaluated. One tension worth noting for triage: the vector states PR:L, but reaching the vulnerable code path requires the ability to load an LWT_SEG6LOCAL BPF program and configure IPv6 segment-routing (an operation normally gated behind CAP_NET_ADMIN/CAP_BPF), which argues for a higher privilege requirement than PR:L - verify the intended privilege model with the Linux maintainers. The input tags this as 'Information Disclosure', but the description states the kernel writes through a dangling pointer, i.e. memory corruption, not primarily disclosure.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A local actor who can load BPF programs and configure IPv6 segment routing attaches an LWT_SEG6LOCAL program that invalidates its cached SRH via bpf_lwt_seg6_adjust_srh() and then calls bpf_skb_pull_data(); the pull reallocates skb->head and leaves the per-CPU SRH pointer dangling, and post-program SRH validation then writes through that freed pointer, corrupting kernel memory. No public exploit identified at time of analysis; the exact trigger reliability and exploitability beyond the described crash/corruption are not detailed in the available sources.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.2% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 24, 2026

Memory corruption in the Linux kernel's LWT_SEG6LOCAL BPF path can be triggered by a local privileged user who can load and attach a BPF program to an IPv6 segment-routing route; the unsafe sequence invalidates the cached SRH and then reallocates skb->head, leaving a dangling pointer that is later written through. Only systems using the non-default SEG6 LWT feature with attached BPF programs are affected, and the attacker must hold CAP_NET_ADMIN/CAP_BPF, so exposure is bounded. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, and EPSS is low at 0.16% (5th percentile), though vendor patches are available.

RemediationAI

Apply the vendor-released kernel fixes for the applicable branch: 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.55, and 7.2.9 (7.3-rc5 is also listed), or update to a kernel release containing the corresponding git.kernel.org stable commits; the primary fix is the verifier change that rejects bpf_skb_pull_data() in LWT_SEG6LOCAL programs. If patching must be deferred, reduce exposure by restricting CAP_BPF/CAP_NET_ADMIN and the ability to attach BPF programs to IPv6 seg6local routes to trusted administrators, and by not deploying LWT_SEG6LOCAL BPF programs on hosts that do not require SRv6 segment routing; the trade-off is loss of that SRv6 functionality and reliance on privilege separation, which does not remove the unsafe helper combination for users who retain those capabilities. Vendor references include the stable commit links and https://vuldb.com/vuln/415753; NVD entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98383.

Affected VersionsENISA

Linux patch: 5.15.222
Linux patch: 6.12.112
Linux patch: 0
Linux patch: 6.18.55
Linux 004d4b274e2a1a895a0e5dc66158b90a7d463d44 <0f38472a2aa8704a6b514c0dfa9c32f3672b8f32
Linux patch: 5.10.271
Linux 004d4b274e2a1a895a0e5dc66158b90a7d463d44 <e4a62833adff6ef0fe7c0b90393204fe3c26b5c5
Linux 004d4b274e2a1a895a0e5dc66158b90a7d463d44 <b9bb0e735460751b620156f800a4279a28573392
Linux 004d4b274e2a1a895a0e5dc66158b90a7d463d44 <cae8674489f26edf7553fdd660599466cbb4c32f
Linux patch: 6.1.189
Linux patch: 6.6.158
Linux 004d4b274e2a1a895a0e5dc66158b90a7d463d44 <9f9e57b5a3a033f95f49ef9d541340cdbcb80abb
Linux 004d4b274e2a1a895a0e5dc66158b90a7d463d44 <fca71ead7a20290af1e2046983eeafae43d21af1
Linux 004d4b274e2a1a895a0e5dc66158b90a7d463d44 <df0072be6fc373cb22f9ea854d458b04e32a03cf
Linux patch: 7.2.9
Linux 004d4b274e2a1a895a0e5dc66158b90a7d463d44 <37b18688cd18fd86d2f35c212df1611862a26cd5
Linux 4.18
Linux patch: 7.3-rc5

Affected Packages

euvd linux no fix

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This is a Linux kernel BPF verifier and lightweight-tunnel (LWT) helper interaction issue, affecting kernels whose CPE is cpe:2.3:a:linux:linux:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*. An LWT_SEG6LOCAL program processes IPv6 Segment Routing Header (SRH) data; bpf_lwt_seg6_adjust_srh() can invalidate the program's cached SRH, and a subsequent bpf_skb_pull_data() may reallocate skb->head, leaving the per-CPU SRH pointer dangling. Post-program SRH validation then writes through that stale pointer, giving a privileged local actor a memory-corruption primitive. The fix disallows bpf_skb_pull_data() for LWT_SEG6LOCAL programs so the verifier rejects the unsafe helper combination, while other LWT program types continue to expose the helper through lwt_out_func_proto(). No CWE mapping is supplied in the input; the assessed vector is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, reflecting local access with high privileges and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

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Severity by source

Vendor (Linux) PRIMARY 7.8 HIGH
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 6.7 MEDIUM

Reaching the path requires loading a BPF LWT program and configuring seg6 (CAP_NET_ADMIN/CAP_BPF), so PR:H and AV:L; the dangling-pointer write yields high C/I/A within the unchanged kernel scope.

3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (Linux).

CVSS VectorVendor: Linux

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

4
CVSS changed
Oct 24, 2026 - 14:22 NVD
7.8 (HIGH)
Patch available
Oct 09, 2026 - 09:16 EUVD
CVE Published
Oct 09, 2026 - 07:34 cve.org
HIGH 7.8
CVE Published
Oct 09, 2026 - 07:34 cve.org
UNKNOWN (no severity yet)

DescriptionCVE.org

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

bpf: Disallow bpf_skb_pull_data() for LWT_SEG6LOCAL

An LWT_SEG6LOCAL program can invalidate its cached SRH with bpf_lwt_seg6_adjust_srh() and then call bpf_skb_pull_data(). The latter may reallocate skb->head, leaving the per-CPU SRH pointer dangling. Post-program SRH validation then writes through that pointer.

Disallow bpf_skb_pull_data() for LWT_SEG6LOCAL programs so the verifier rejects this unsafe helper combination. Other LWT program types continue to expose the helper through lwt_out_func_proto().

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

A memory-corruption flaw in the Linux kernel's IPv6 segment-routing BPF path (CVE-2026-98383) enables a local privileged user to write through a dangling pointer, potentially causing kernel crashes or privilege escalation on affected hosts. Because exploitation requires CAP_NET_ADMIN/CAP_BPF and the non-default SEG6 LWT feature with attached BPF programs, only a narrow subset of systems and users is exposed. Leadership should track remediation but limited reach and no confirmed active exploitation reduce urgency to a routine patch cycle.

Business Impact: Medium
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.2%
Top 95% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
Linux kernel runs across the vast majority of server environments
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.2%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Defer
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact
Medium

Priority Score

39
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +39
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.

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