Kernel crash via nonlinear multicast socket buffer
Published Sep 16, 2026 · Updated Sep 16, 2026
A packet-handling flaw in Linux 6.8 allows attackers to crash the kernel through batman-adv multicast packet generation. The batadv_mcast_forw_mcsend path unshares but does not linearize a nonlinear socket buffer before batadv_mcast_forw_scrape or batadv_mcast_forw_packet invokes SKB_LINEAR_ASSERT, triggering BUG(). Reaching the fault requires multicast packet generation through an active batman-adv mesh interface; the reported consequence is a fatal kernel BUG and service interruption.
Summary
What happened
A packet-handling flaw in Linux 6.8 allows attackers to crash the kernel through batman-adv multicast packet generation. The batadv_mcast_forw_mcsend path unshares but does not linearize a nonlinear socket buffer before batadv_mcast_forw_scrape or batadv_mcast_forw_packet invokes SKB_LINEAR_ASSERT, triggering BUG(). Reaching the fault requires multicast packet generation through an active batman-adv mesh interface; the reported consequence is a fatal kernel BUG and service interruption.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-89950
- Published
- Sep 16, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 16, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499
- Attack vector
- Unavailable
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 16, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 16, 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=6.8
- Affected versionversion=90039133221e33964ccb4a536dad7eb0a372fff7 <2879177539e3ece483a8e5406970373698e9a6c5
- Affected versionversion=90039133221e33964ccb4a536dad7eb0a372fff7 <6a30a59e2660afd03c975f1b8eae6a2301161197
- Affected versionversion=90039133221e33964ccb4a536dad7eb0a372fff7 <a9603e0a7cb5e0cddc6b23af153cf7daafc5c55e
- Affected versionversion=90039133221e33964ccb4a536dad7eb0a372fff7 <c32e5e25c41201c8c3b796a4ab2c45103187091e
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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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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