Linux Kernel up to 6.18.53/7.2.7/7.3-rc3 ip_tunnel ip_tun_parse_opts_geneve options_len buffer overflow

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4.3	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.53/7.2.7/7.3-rc3. This affects the function ip_tun_parse_opts_geneve of the component ip_tunnel. Executing a manipulation of the argument options_len can lead to buffer overflow. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-98240. The attack can be executed remotely. There is not any exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.53/7.2.7/7.3-rc3. This vulnerability affects the function ip_tun_parse_opts_geneve of the component ip_tunnel. The manipulation of the argument options_len with an unknown input leads to a buffer overflow vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-120. The product copies an input buffer to an output buffer without verifying that the size of the input buffer is less than the size of the output buffer, leading to a buffer overflow. As an impact it is known to affect availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: ip_tunnel: initialize `options_len` before referencing options The following command triggers a kernel panic: ip link add d0 type dummy; ip link set d0 up ip route add 10.30.0.0/16 \ encap ip id 300 geneve_opts 4660:66:11223344 dev d0 memcpy: detected buffer overflow: 4 byte write of buffer size 0 kernel BUG at lib/string_helpers.c:1044! ... ip_tun_parse_opts.part.0.cold+0x10/0x10 ip_tun_build_state+0x116/0x2a0 On kernels built with GCC 15+ and `CONFIG_FORTIFY_SOURCE`, the fortified `memcpy()` got 0 sized destination with request of 4 bytes length: static int ip_tun_parse_opts_geneve(...) { ... attr = tb[LWTUNNEL_IP_OPT_GENEVE_DATA]; data_len = nla_len(attr); /* == 4 */ struct geneve_opt *opt = ip_tunnel_info_opts(info) + opts_len; memcpy(opt->opt_data, nla_data(attr), data_len); /* ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 0 since options_len is assigned afterwards */ Fixed by initializing the counter before the options are referenced. Matching what `tunnel_key_opts_set()` already does.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-98240 since 09/25/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploitation needs additional levels of successful authentication. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. 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 10/06/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.18.54, 7.2.8 or 7.3-rc4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 9907325257b4b382f26aafd5d9a8d47915907dd5/0f6a6beb01c068fcd5274eabf22c260039749fea/455ebeadf714f51e1dbbd6a022c74c9215b1cd76 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

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Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

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
• 6.18.53
• 7.2.0
• 7.2.1
• 7.2.2
• 7.2.3
• 7.2.4
• 7.2.5
• 7.2.6
• 7.2.7
• 7.3-rc1
• 7.3-rc2
• 7.3-rc3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.3

VulDB Base Score: 4.5
VulDB Temp Score: 4.3
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Buffer overflow
CWE: CWE-120 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.18.54/7.2.8/7.3-rc4
Patch: 9907325257b4b382f26aafd5d9a8d47915907dd5/0f6a6beb01c068fcd5274eabf22c260039749fea/455ebeadf714f51e1dbbd6a022c74c9215b1cd76

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 CVE reserved
10/06/2026 +11 days Advisory disclosed
10/06/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
10/06/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CNA: Linux
CVE: CVE-2026-98240 (🔒)

GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-98240
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-414136

Entryinfo

Created: 10/06/2026 13:04
Changes: 10/06/2026 13:04 (60)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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Discussion

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