Kernel hang via zero-length IPTFS inner packet
Published Apr 22, 2026 · Updated Apr 22, 2026
IPTFS infinite loop in affected Linux Kernel builds allows local users to hang a system via an ESP packet with a malformed inner header. The __input_process_payload() loop accepts an inner IPv4 tot_len of zero, computes a zero capture length, and never advances its data pointer. Reachability requires low-privileged local access and an IPTFS security association that delivers the malformed decrypted payload; the resulting softirq CPU spin interrupts system availability without reported data access or modification.
Summary
What happened
IPTFS infinite loop in affected Linux Kernel builds allows local users to hang a system via an ESP packet with a malformed inner header. The __input_process_payload() loop accepts an inner IPv4 tot_len of zero, computes a zero capture length, and never advances its data pointer. Reachability requires low-privileged local access and an IPTFS security association that delivers the malformed decrypted payload; the resulting softirq CPU spin interrupts system availability without reported data access or modification.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-31472
- Published
- Apr 22, 2026
- Updated
- Apr 22, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- CWE-835, T1499.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 22, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 22, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=6.14
- Affected versionversion=6c82d2433671819a550227bf65bfb6043e3d3305 <0d10393d5eac33cbd92f7a41fddca12c41d3cb7e
- Affected versionversion=6c82d2433671819a550227bf65bfb6043e3d3305 <3db7d4f777a00164582061ccaa99569cd85011a3
- Affected versionversion=6c82d2433671819a550227bf65bfb6043e3d3305 <de6d8e8ce5187f7402c9859b443355e7120c5f09
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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