Linux Kernel up to 6.18.54/7.2.8/7.3-rc4 net/sched em_text_dump uninitialized pointer

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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4.1$0-$5k0.45-

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as problematic has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.54/7.2.8/7.3-rc4. The affected element is the function em_text_dump of the file net/sched. Performing a manipulation results in uninitialized pointer. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2026-98584. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.54/7.2.8/7.3-rc4. This affects the function em_text_dump of the file net/sched. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a uninitialized pointer vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-824. The product accesses or uses a pointer that has not been initialized. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/sched: fix potential stack infoleak in em_text_dump() em_text_dump() allocates struct tcf_em_text on the stack without zeroing it. strscpy() writes the algorithm name and a NUL terminator into conf.algo[], leaving the remaining bytes uninitialised. nla_put_nohdr() then copies the full struct to the netlink response. KMSAN on Linux 7.2-rc6 reports two kernel-infoleak splats from this path, one triggered via "tc filter show" and one via a raw RTM_GETTFILTER dump: BUG: KMSAN: kernel-infoleak in _copy_to_iter+0x1c9/0x2620 nla_put_nohdr+0x83/0x130 em_text_dump+0x291/0x550 Local variable conf created at: em_text_dump+0x5d/0x550 Bytes 168-179 of 199 are uninitialized I am not certain whether this constitutes a real security problem in practice: the test was conducted in a controlled KMSAN environment and the leaked stack bytes may or may not carry sensitive data on actual production kernels. I am reporting it because KMSAN flagged it as a kernel-infoleak and the fix is straightforward. I can provide a userspace reproducer on request. The original code used strncpy() which zero-pads to the destination size. Commit b04202d6065c ("net/sched: replace strncpy with strscpy") replaced it with strscpy(), which does not pad, creating this condition. Zero-initialising the struct closes it.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-98584 since 09/25/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/18/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.18.55, 7.2.9 or 7.3-rc5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 9923e1c537f91f3530b52d4efce85f3d9c131bf8/0b160417826d22f24fc31a5b9cfae3b14aa70f76/9c572a83037a7dcd653ba3a9cc468c16b857d0c9 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Productinfo

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Version

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.1

VulDB Base Score: 4.3
VulDB Temp Score: 4.1
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: Uninitialized pointer
CWE: CWE-824 / CWE-908
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 6.18.55/7.2.9/7.3-rc5
Patch: 9923e1c537f91f3530b52d4efce85f3d9c131bf8/0b160417826d22f24fc31a5b9cfae3b14aa70f76/9c572a83037a7dcd653ba3a9cc468c16b857d0c9

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-2026-98584 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-98584
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-422109

Entryinfo

Created: 10/18/2026 20:23
Changes: 10/18/2026 20:23 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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