CVE-2026-98287: pppoatm: ensure a writable skb header and linear data
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
pppoatm: ensure a writable skb header and linear data
In pppoatmsend(), LLC encapsulation checks whether there is sufficient headroom for the 4-byte LLC header, but does not ensure that the skb header is writable.
Normal transmit packets passing through pppstartxmit() have their header unshared via skbcowhead(). However, packets can also reach pppoatmsend() via PPP channel bridging (PPPIOCBRIDGECHAN) without going through pppstartxmit().
Use skbcowhead() to ensure both sufficient headroom and a writable header before pushing the LLC header.
While at it: - Call pskbmaypull(skb, 1) before inspecting skb->data[0] to prevent out-of-bounds reads on zero-length or non-linear frames (e.g. from bridging). - Defer SCCOMPPROT protocol compression until after pppoatmmaysend() succeeds. This eliminates the temporary skb allocation on admission failure and completely removes the fragile "undo" heuristic at the nospace label, avoiding any risk of reading uninitialized headroom or performing an unbalanced skbpush().
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
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Fixed in 6.6.158.1-1 - Upgrade
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debian/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.1.190-1Fixed in 6.12.115-2Fixed in 7.2.12-1Fixed in 7.2.15-1 - Upgrade
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debian/linux-6.12to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.12.113-1~deb12u1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcp-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1120.130+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42.1~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-awsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.17 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.18 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-ibmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oracleto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1015.16 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-riscvto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42.1 - Compensating control
In pppoatm_send(), call skb_cow_head() before pushing the 4-byte LLC header to ensure sufficient headroom and a writable skb header.
- Compensating control
Call pskb_may_pull(skb, 1) before inspecting skb->data[0] to prevent out-of-bounds reads on zero-length or non-linear frames.
- Compensating control
Defer SC_COMP_PROT protocol compression until after pppoatm_may_send() succeeds, including packets reaching pppoatm_send() through PPP channel bridging (PPPIOCBRIDGECHAN).
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
Which traffic path is specifically exposed to the missing writable-header check?
PPP channel bridging configured through PPPIOCBRIDGECHAN can send packets to pppoatm_send() without passing through ppp_start_xmit(). That bypasses the normal skb_cow_head() handling performed for ordinary transmit packets.
What packet properties are relevant to triggering the issue?
The affected LLC encapsulation path may handle packets without sufficient writable headroom. Zero-length or non-linear frames, including frames received through bridging, can also cause an out-of-bounds read when the first byte is inspected without first ensuring data is available.