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Response snapshot Oct 28, 2026, 20:06 UTC

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VulnerabilityCVE-2026-98096

Linux kernel: ipv6: sr: restore network header before routing and forwarding

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipv6: sr: restore network header before routing and forwarding ipv6_srh_rcv() runs with skb->data at the Segment Routing Header (SRH) while skb_network_header() points at the IPv6 header.

At a glance

Exploited
Not known
Severity
7.4 High (CVSS 3.1)
Chance of exploitation
Not estimated
Sources
1 source

What to do

Check the vendor advisory for affected versions and fixes.

Read NVD CVE-2026-98096 (opens a new tab)

What happened

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ipv6: sr: restore network header before routing and forwarding

ipv6_srh_rcv() runs with skb->data at the Segment Routing Header (SRH) while skb_network_header() points at the IPv6 header.

When segments_left > 0, ipv6_srh_rcv() previously restored the skb->data position by pushing sizeof(struct ipv6hdr), assuming the SRH immediately followed the fixed IPv6 header. If another extension header (such as a Hop-by-Hop options header) precedes the SRH, skb_network_offset() remained negative.

Continue reading

This led to two problems: 1. During ip6_route_input(), fib6_rules_early_flow_dissect() invokes __skb_flow_dissect() which passes the negative skb_network_offset() to flow dissection, breaking BPF and C flow dissector logic. 2. If forwarded via ip6_forward() or redirected via act_mirred, downstream handlers (like sch_fragment() or neighbour output) pass the negative offset as an unsigned length, triggering OOB memcpy or buffer overflows.

Fix this by pushing -skb_network_offset(skb) before routing, ensuring skb_network_offset(skb) is 0 for route lookup / flow dissection as well as downstream forwarding. On the loopback path, pull skb_transport_offset(skb) to restore skb->data to the SRH before looping back.

Scores and how they were measured

CVSS base severity

7.4

Version 3.1As of

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H

Measurement source (opens a new tab)

How bad it is if exploited. Not a prediction of exploitation or proof you are exposed.

EPSS probability

Not available

A model's estimate of exploitation in the next 30 days, not certainty or your own risk.

Related technology

Sources

  1. Primary source

    NVD CVE-2026-98096 (opens a new tab)

    NVD record: description, CVSS (the CNA score is preferred), affected products, and publication date. Not evidence of exploitation.

    Published Checked

  2. Primary source

    NVD CVE API 2.0 (opens a new tab)

    The NVD API page that supplied this CVE record.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

  3. Primary source

    NVD CVE API 2.0 (opens a new tab)

    The NVD API page that supplied this CVE record.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

Cite this record

For factual claims, cite the primary sources above; cite KEVWire for its compilation, dates, and classifications.

APA

KEVWire. (2026, October 28). Linux kernel: ipv6: sr: restore network header before routing and forwarding (CVE-2026-98096). https://kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-98096

MLA

"Linux kernel: ipv6: sr: restore network header before routing and forwarding (CVE-2026-98096)." KEVWire, 28 Oct. 2026, kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-98096.

Chicago

KEVWire. "Linux kernel: ipv6: sr: restore network header before routing and forwarding (CVE-2026-98096)." Last modified October 28, 2026. https://kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-98096.

Evidence summary (plain text)

Linux kernel: ipv6: sr: restore network header before routing and forwarding (Sep 25, 2026).
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ipv6: sr: restore network header before routing and forwarding

ipv6_srh_rcv() runs with skb->data at the Segment Routing Header (SRH)
while skb_network_header() points at the IPv6 header.

When segments_left > 0, ipv6_srh_rcv() previously restored the skb->data
position by pushing sizeof(struct ipv6hdr), assuming the SRH immediately
followed the fixed IPv6 header. If another extension header (such as a
Hop-by-Hop options header) precedes the SRH, skb_network_offset()
remained negative.

This led to two problems:
1.
CVSS 7.4 (version 3.1; evidence as of Oct 28, 2026; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98096).
Sources:
NVD CVE-2026-98096: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98096
NVD CVE API 2.0: https://services.nvd.nist.gov/rest/json/cves/2.0?lastModStartDate=2026-10-28T18:31:08.168Z&lastModEndDate=2026-10-28T20:05:58.019Z&resultsPerPage=500&startIndex=0
NVD CVE API 2.0: https://services.nvd.nist.gov/rest/json/cves/2.0?lastModStartDate=2026-10-28T17:55:58.678Z&lastModEndDate=2026-10-28T19:30:56.852Z&resultsPerPage=500&startIndex=0
Record ID: CVE-2026-98096.
Record origin: Ingested record.
AI evidence: Not assessed.
Known exploitation: Not assessed.
Zero-day status: Not assessed. KEV membership alone does not establish zero-day status.
About this data

This record was ingested from a data source. Retrieved: Oct 28, 2026, 20:05 UTC. Ingestion is not an independent editorial investigation.

NVD status: Analyzed. Publication in the NVD is not evidence of exploitation.

A CISA KEV listing documents known exploitation, not necessarily a zero-day; absence from the catalog does not prove a vulnerability has never been exploited.

Technology tags indicate possible relevance, not verified exposure. Confirm the affected product, version, and configuration against your own inventory; KEVWire does not scan your systems.

A personal reading checklist on this device, not verified remediation.

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Record details

Record detail