CPU hang via packet-ring timeout integer overflow
Published Oct 18, 2026 · Updated Oct 18, 2026
Integer overflow in Linux AF_PACKET allows local users to hang CPUs via crafted TPACKET_V3 receive-ring block sizes. The prb_calc_retire_blk_tmo() function multiplies an attacker-controlled block size by eight in 32-bit arithmetic, producing a negative timeout that makes the retirement timer repeatedly fire. The maximum-rate CPU spin affects the hrtimer implementation introduced in 6.18 and requires CAP_NET_RAW, automatic timeout selection, and a suitable reported link speed, including 1 Gbps; additional rings exhaust additional CPUs until their sockets close.
Summary
What happened
Integer overflow in Linux AF_PACKET allows local users to hang CPUs via crafted TPACKET_V3 receive-ring block sizes. The prb_calc_retire_blk_tmo() function multiplies an attacker-controlled block size by eight in 32-bit arithmetic, producing a negative timeout that makes the retirement timer repeatedly fire. The maximum-rate CPU spin affects the hrtimer implementation introduced in 6.18 and requires CAP_NET_RAW, automatic timeout selection, and a suitable reported link speed, including 1 Gbps; additional rings exhaust additional CPUs until their sockets close.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-98547
- Published
- Oct 18, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 18, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 18, 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=3.2
- Affected versionversion=f6fb8f100b807378fda19e83e5ac6828b638603a <02afd75649a4e001031ed82153a5c39312ec0737
- Affected versionversion=f6fb8f100b807378fda19e83e5ac6828b638603a <218a944b9e035d4b47d59c69af6ca13319da15fb
- Affected versionversion=f6fb8f100b807378fda19e83e5ac6828b638603a <297acc571d5813db76b147c745b91031d5f9c960
- Affected versionversion=f6fb8f100b807378fda19e83e5ac6828b638603a <56d82862a0a243ac14ba11b6d7b57ddc2d064b95
- Affected versionversion=f6fb8f100b807378fda19e83e5ac6828b638603a <6279211e7d2456ecd195d236c9ee5e5c6fa5a17a
- Affected versionversion=f6fb8f100b807378fda19e83e5ac6828b638603a <b2bcc6a254d6f27823a56787668ae4ee8cdb6e71
- Affected versionversion=f6fb8f100b807378fda19e83e5ac6828b638603a <be1aacff399d519cc48d6b34354a54dd79041140
- Affected versionversion=f6fb8f100b807378fda19e83e5ac6828b638603a <eb5b3838b9200dac04bfe33483db0ee8287456fb
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
No CVSS assessment is available in this record.
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- TPACKET_V3 receive-ring timeout reproducerproof of concept · unverified
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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