Linux Kernel up to 7.3-rc4 VLAN vlan_dev_hard_header hard_header_len/needed_headroom stack-based overflow

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7.2	$5k-$25k	0.47

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.3-rc4. It has been rated as critical. This vulnerability affects the function vlan_dev_hard_header of the component VLAN. The manipulation of the argument hard_header_len/needed_headroom leads to stack-based overflow. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2026-98554. The attack can be initiated remotely. There is not any exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.3-rc4 and classified as critical. This issue affects the function vlan_dev_hard_header of the component VLAN. The manipulation of the argument hard_header_len/needed_headroom with an unknown input leads to a stack-based overflow vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-121. A stack-based buffer overflow condition is a condition where the buffer being overwritten is allocated on the stack (i.e., is a local variable or, rarely, a parameter to a function). Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: vlan: ensure sufficient headroom in vlan_dev_hard_header() Callers that only reserve ETH_HLEN or less (such as llc_alloc_frame()), or skbs allocated before dynamic device/headroom changes (e.g. toggling VLAN_FLAG_REORDER_HDR or bonding/team switching slaves), can reach vlan_dev_hard_header() with insufficient headroom and trigger skb_under_panic(). Use skb_cow_head() in vlan_dev_hard_header() when VLAN_FLAG_REORDER_HDR is not set to ensure sufficient headroom for the VLAN header(s) and the underlying device hard header. Use READ_ONCE() to read dev->hard_header_len and dev->needed_headroom as they can be updated concurrently under RTNL (e.g. in vlan_transfer_features()) while vlan_dev_hard_header() runs locklessly on the transmit path. Also avoid LL_RESERVED_SPACE(dev) here so that the extra HH_DATA_MOD alignment padding does not trigger unnecessary pskb_expand_head() reallocations on inner stacked VLAN devices after the outer VLAN header has been pushed.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-98554 since 09/25/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/18/2026).

Upgrading to version 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.55, 7.2.9 or 7.3-rc5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 55e007fc3b4d76fa4d6b4660f6904fe6ab045a1b/5aca8e6a8ff6aeae358c1d9b65447aac416ace95/4ba1f57313f36a3ce6f77d593548f0c511f34aa1/ca797491f0ae4bfde9039f79f6f1ed7781c9110f/cfba0f45553de2b803059e3d539a1e418df24da8/c7ee4bea64f559ea8e03260014775b64c720cb5b/90d51095371d96747f45bbd8504edf6513e039ef/cd5dd68267c4238795fadaf02b3575ca3f8a6500 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.10.270
• 5.15.221
• 6.1.188
• 6.6.157
• 6.12.111
• 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
• 6.18.54
• 7.2.0
• 7.2.1
• 7.2.2
• 7.2.3
• 7.2.4
• 7.2.5
• 7.2.6
• 7.2.7
• 7.2.8
• 7.3-rc1
• 7.3-rc2
• 7.3-rc3
• 7.3-rc4

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
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CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
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CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.2

VulDB Base Score: 7.5
VulDB Temp Score: 7.2
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Stack-based overflow
CWE: CWE-121 / 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 5.10.271/5.15.222/6.1.189/6.6.158/6.12.112/6.18.55/7.2.9/7.3-rc5
Patch: 55e007fc3b4d76fa4d6b4660f6904fe6ab045a1b/5aca8e6a8ff6aeae358c1d9b65447aac416ace95/4ba1f57313f36a3ce6f77d593548f0c511f34aa1/ca797491f0ae4bfde9039f79f6f1ed7781c9110f/cfba0f45553de2b803059e3d539a1e418df24da8/c7ee4bea64f559ea8e03260014775b64c720cb5b/90d51095371d96747f45bbd8504edf6513e039ef/cd5dd68267c4238795fadaf02b3575ca3f8a6500

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 CVE reserved
10/18/2026 +23 days Advisory disclosed
10/18/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
10/18/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-98554 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-98554
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-422051

Entryinfo

Created: 10/18/2026 20:03
Changes: 10/18/2026 20:03 (60)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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