Kernel hang via MTU-derived quantum overflow
Published Sep 17, 2026 · Updated Sep 17, 2026
Integer overflow in the Linux 3.12 fq scheduler allows local users to trigger a kernel soft lockup via an oversized device MTU. In net/sched/sch_fq.c, fq_init() multiplies the MTU-derived value without overflow checks, producing a zero quantum that makes fq_dequeue() repeatedly refill credit without progress while holding the qdisc lock. Exploitation requires CAP_NET_ADMIN in a user namespace and a device accepting an exceptionally large MTU; the documented consequence is a hang, not data disclosure or privilege escalation.
Summary
What happened
Integer overflow in the Linux 3.12 fq scheduler allows local users to trigger a kernel soft lockup via an oversized device MTU. In net/sched/sch_fq.c, fq_init() multiplies the MTU-derived value without overflow checks, producing a zero quantum that makes fq_dequeue() repeatedly refill credit without progress while holding the qdisc lock. Exploitation requires CAP_NET_ADMIN in a user namespace and a device accepting an exceptionally large MTU; the documented consequence is a hang, not data disclosure or privilege escalation.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-90076
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 17, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 17, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 17, 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?
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- Affected versionversion=3.12
- Affected versionversion=afe4fd062416b158a8a8538b23adc1930a9b88dc <709f34f7c28dc4dd6c40343d101850f11e172312
- Affected versionversion=afe4fd062416b158a8a8538b23adc1930a9b88dc <d16dac3925be95ad46e986d4b139c9898b6e227f
- Affected versionversion=afe4fd062416b158a8a8538b23adc1930a9b88dc <e35acd56f244d94355f9ab237c2ecc8fba5e6f04
- Affected versionversion=afe4fd062416b158a8a8538b23adc1930a9b88dc <f6b3e3848a5fca63438984acd6d9eceac80814c1
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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Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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