Kernel crash via undersized authentication challenge buffer
Published Oct 18, 2026 · Updated Oct 18, 2026
An out-of-bounds write in Linux 6.0 NVMe target authentication allows remote attackers to crash the kernel via short AUTH_RECEIVE buffers. In nvmet_auth_challenge(), sizeof on a dereferenced void pointer undercounts the challenge header by 15 bytes, allowing the challenge copy to overrun the allocation. Reaching this stage requires an accessible NVMe target with in-band authentication support, before secret verification; the reported panic used KASAN with panic_on_warn enabled.
Summary
What happened
An out-of-bounds write in Linux 6.0 NVMe target authentication allows remote attackers to crash the kernel via short AUTH_RECEIVE buffers. In nvmet_auth_challenge(), sizeof on a dereferenced void pointer undercounts the challenge header by 15 bytes, allowing the challenge copy to overrun the allocation. Reaching this stage requires an accessible NVMe target with in-band authentication support, before secret verification; the reported panic used KASAN with panic_on_warn enabled.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-98725
- Published
- Oct 18, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 18, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499.004
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
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?
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- Affected versionversion=6.0
- Affected versionversion=db1312dd95488b5e6ff362ff66fcf953a46b1821 <7fd3c363eba4f2aceb4b3f31cd1cf65e0dcbaee4
- Affected versionversion=db1312dd95488b5e6ff362ff66fcf953a46b1821 <8a9b4c0eef19c207663c1ee888257307c869ca86
- Affected versionversion=db1312dd95488b5e6ff362ff66fcf953a46b1821 <9d61131acd742cf97ee64e453383e41b46568513
- Affected versionversion=db1312dd95488b5e6ff362ff66fcf953a46b1821 <fa6778e030bed9841ddcdf96bc7018da9ac03562
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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Technologies
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