Linux Kernel up to 6.12.110/6.18.52/7.2.6/7.3-rc2 MPLS net/sched/act_mpls.c skb_mpls_pop inner_protocol out-of-bounds write

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CTI Interest Score
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9.5$5k-$25k0.00+

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as very critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.110/6.18.52/7.2.6/7.3-rc2. This affects the function skb_mpls_pop of the file net/sched/act_mpls.c of the component MPLS. Such manipulation of the argument inner_protocol leads to out-of-bounds write. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2026-97612. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. No exploit is available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.110/6.18.52/7.2.6/7.3-rc2 and classified as very critical. Affected by this issue is the function skb_mpls_pop of the file net/sched/act_mpls.c of the component MPLS. The manipulation of the argument inner_protocol with an unknown input leads to a out-of-bounds write vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-787. The product writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: mpls: clear inner_protocol when the last label is popped skb_mpls_push() records the pre-encapsulation network header once, gated on !skb->inner_protocol. skb_mpls_pop() never clears that record, so it outlives the encapsulation it describes. Open vSwitch can then re-push MPLS onto a packet whose inner_network_header still points at the older, deeper offset: push a label, pop every label, recirculate (ovs_flow_key_update() re-derives key->eth.type and resets network_header, but leaves inner_*), then push again. ovs_fragment() trusts the record: skb->network_header = skb->inner_network_header; so skb_network_offset() goes negative. The bound check is signed: if (skb_network_offset(skb) > MAX_L2_LEN) a negative offset passes it, and prepare_frag() widens the value: unsigned int hlen = skb_network_offset(skb); memcpy(&data->l2_data, skb->data, hlen); which is a ~4GiB memcpy out of a 30-byte per-CPU buffer. Reproduced on v7.3-rc1. RDX is the truncated length, (unsigned int)(-8): BUG: unable to handle page fault for address: ffffe8ffffc16000 #PF: supervisor write access in kernel mode Oops: 0002 [#1] SMP KASAN NOPTI RIP: 0010:memcpy+0x8/0x20 RDX: 00000000fffffff8 RSI: ffff888105d732db RDI: ffffe8ffffc16000 prepare_frag+0x3df/0x4e0 ovs_fragment+0x589/0x7e0 do_output+0x4ce/0x5e0 do_execute_actions+0x55d2/0x7b30 ovs_execute_actions+0xea/0x450 Same root-cause shape as commit 975b5b067f52 ("ipv6: sr: restore network header before routing and forwarding"): a stale network header offset reaching a consumer that widens it. Here it originates in the MPLS push/pop path. Clear inner_protocol once the packet is no longer MPLS, so a later push re-records the current header. net/sched/act_mpls.c is the only other skb_mpls_pop() caller and gets the same fix; sch_frag.c saves and restores inner_protocol around fragmentation in the same way OVS does.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-97612 since 09/24/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $5k-$25k (estimation calculated on 09/25/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.12.111, 6.18.53, 7.2.7 or 7.3-rc3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 011e17b5cae19b9f6a150923275e41c278de64f0/da8c3a7f5d3137fec4ff60a6248f5f6d66b6a63e/b39120523475d6b436be7f6cb27d48064148a327/78a86d75a70e1e227711c72865c59b1422d0a5ae is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

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Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.5

VulDB Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Temp Score: 9.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Out-of-bounds write
CWE: CWE-787 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.12.111/6.18.53/7.2.7/7.3-rc3
Patch: 011e17b5cae19b9f6a150923275e41c278de64f0/da8c3a7f5d3137fec4ff60a6248f5f6d66b6a63e/b39120523475d6b436be7f6cb27d48064148a327/78a86d75a70e1e227711c72865c59b1422d0a5ae

Timelineinfo

09/24/2026 CVE reserved
09/25/2026 +1 days Advisory disclosed
09/25/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
09/25/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-97612 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-97612
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-410000

Entryinfo

Created: 09/25/2026 13:42
Changes: 09/25/2026 13:42 (61)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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