Linux Kernel up to 6.18.52/7.2.6/7.3-rc1 ipv6 mcast ip6_mc_source sflist/sl_addr/sl_count race condition

| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 9.5 | $0-$5k | 0.00+ |
Summary
A vulnerability described as very critical has been identified in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.52/7.2.6/7.3-rc1. The affected element is the function ip6_mc_source of the component ipv6 mcast. The manipulation of the argument sflist/sl_addr/sl_count results in race condition.
This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2026-98101. The attack can be launched remotely. No exploit exists.
Upgrading the affected component is recommended.
Details
A vulnerability classified as very critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.52/7.2.6/7.3-rc1. Affected is the function ip6_mc_source of the component ipv6 mcast. The manipulation of the argument sflist/sl_addr/sl_count with an unknown input leads to a race condition vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-362. The product contains a code sequence that can run concurrently with other code, and the code sequence requires temporary, exclusive access to a shared resource, but a timing window exists in which the shared resource can be modified by another code sequence that is operating concurrently. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipv6: mcast: use copy-on-write RCU updates in ip6_mc_source() pmc->sflist is read locklessly under rcu_read_lock() by inet6_mc_check() during packet reception in the UDP and RAW multicast receive paths. ip6_mc_source() mutated psl->sl_addr and psl->sl_count in-place when adding or removing a source filter. Additionally, when expanding the filter buffer, newpsl was published via rcu_assign_pointer() before writing the new source into the array. Because 16-byte struct in6_addr writes are not atomic and array shifting is not synchronized with RCU readers, concurrent readers in inet6_mc_check() could read torn IPv6 addresses or observe duplicated/missed source entries. Fix this by switching ip6_mc_source() to copy-on-write RCU updates: allocate and fully populate newpsl before publishing it via rcu_assign_pointer(), and reclaim the old filter via kfree_rcu(), matching ip6_mc_msfilter(). Also remove the now unused IP6_SFBLOCK macro.
The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-98101 since 09/25/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 09/25/2026).
Upgrading to version 6.18.53, 7.2.7 or 7.3-rc2 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 2c2091e2ee93049fc513ad1e6c99d8b6c809f467/20db91a052332ef5552bd2f651ffb9db911cf67b/c073d1b070f171d206b19c98d71739a97f15b3f1 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Product
Type
Vendor
Name
Version
- 6.18.0
- 6.18.1
- 6.18.2
- 6.18.3
- 6.18.4
- 6.18.5
- 6.18.6
- 6.18.7
- 6.18.8
- 6.18.9
- 6.18.10
- 6.18.11
- 6.18.12
- 6.18.13
- 6.18.14
- 6.18.15
- 6.18.16
- 6.18.17
- 6.18.18
- 6.18.19
- 6.18.20
- 6.18.21
- 6.18.22
- 6.18.23
- 6.18.24
- 6.18.25
- 6.18.26
- 6.18.27
- 6.18.28
- 6.18.29
- 6.18.30
- 6.18.31
- 6.18.32
- 6.18.33
- 6.18.34
- 6.18.35
- 6.18.36
- 6.18.37
- 6.18.38
- 6.18.39
- 6.18.40
- 6.18.41
- 6.18.42
- 6.18.43
- 6.18.44
- 6.18.45
- 6.18.46
- 6.18.47
- 6.18.48
- 6.18.49
- 6.18.50
- 6.18.51
- 6.18.52
- 7.2.0
- 7.2.1
- 7.2.2
- 7.2.3
- 7.2.4
- 7.2.5
- 7.2.6
- 7.3-rc1
License
Website
- Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔒VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 10.0VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.5
VulDB Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Temp Score: 9.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv2
| AV | AC | Au | C | I | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| Vector | Complexity | Authentication | Confidentiality | Integrity | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Race conditionCWE: CWE-362
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒
Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes
Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒
| 0-Day | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: UpgradeStatus: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔒
Upgrade: Kernel 6.18.53/7.2.7/7.3-rc2
Patch: 2c2091e2ee93049fc513ad1e6c99d8b6c809f467/20db91a052332ef5552bd2f651ffb9db911cf67b/c073d1b070f171d206b19c98d71739a97f15b3f1
Timeline
09/25/2026 Advisory disclosed09/25/2026 CVE reserved
09/25/2026 VulDB entry created
09/25/2026 VulDB entry last update
Sources
Vendor: kernel.orgAdvisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed
CVE: CVE-2026-98101 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-98101
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-409932
Entry
Created: 09/25/2026 12:58Changes: 09/25/2026 12:58 (60)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
No comments yet. Languages: en.
Please log in to comment.