UBUNTU-CVE-2026-64551: Critical severity ubuntu/linux vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sctp: validate STALECOOKIE cause length before reading staleness When an ERROR chunk with a STALECOOKIE cause is received in the COOKIEECHOED state, sctpsfdo526stale() reads the 4-byte Measure of Staleness that follows the cause header: err = (struct sctperrhdr )(chunk->skb->data); stale = ntohl((be32 )((u8 )err + sizeof(err))); err is the first cause in the chunk, not the STALECOOKIE cause that caused the dispatch, and nothing guarantees the staleness field is present. sctpwalkerrors() only requires a cause to be as long as the 4-byte header, so for a STALECOOKIE cause of length 4 the read runs past the cause, and for a minimal ERROR chunk past skb->tail. The value is echoed to the peer in the Cookie Preservative of the reply INIT, leaking uninitialized memory. sctpsfcookieechoederr() already walks to the STALECOOKIE cause, so check its length there and pass it to sctpsfdo526stale(), which reads that cause instead of the first one. A STALECOOKIE cause too short to hold the staleness field is discarded. The read is reachable by any peer that can drive an association into COOKIEECHOED, including an unprivileged process using a raw SCTP socket in a user and network namespace.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1123.132~20.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1122.131~20.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1118.128~20.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-198.208~20.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1111.115~20.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.118~20.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-195.205~20.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1114.120~20.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1111.115~20.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-198.208 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-awsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azureto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1123.132 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azure-fdeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1122.131 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gcpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1118.128 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gketo a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1113.119 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gkeopto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1100.108 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-ibmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1111.115 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-intel-iotgto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.118 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-kvmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1109.114 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-lowlatencyto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-195.205 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-nvidiato a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.113 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-oracleto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1114.120 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1080.84 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-bluefieldto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1101.103 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtimeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1109.111 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-realtimeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1116.125 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-aws-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124+fips1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azure-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1123.132+fips1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-198.208+fips1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1118.128+fips1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-147.147 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-awsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.70 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-aws-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azureto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azure-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17~24.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azure-fdeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.76 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gcpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gcp-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gketo a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1066.74 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gkeopto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1052.56 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-34.34~24.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-ibmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.68 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-lowlatencyto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-147.147.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegrato a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1035.38 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-oracleto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.67 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-oracle-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1012.12~24.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-34.34.1~24.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-bluefieldto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1033.38 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-realtimeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.1-1062.63 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-aws-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.70+fips1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azure-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79+fips1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-147.147+fips1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79+fips1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-34.34 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-awsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azureto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azure-fdeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.16 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gcpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gketo a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1007.8 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-ibmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-oracleto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1012.12 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-raspito a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1020.20 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-realtimeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-34.34.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-riscvto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-34.34.1
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can trigger the vulnerable code path?
Any peer that can drive an SCTP association into the COOKIE_ECHOED state can reach the read. The CVSS vector indicates network reachability with low attack complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction.
Which Ubuntu kernel package families are listed as affected?
The listed packages are ubuntu/linux, ubuntu/linux-fips, ubuntu/linux-aws, ubuntu/linux-azure, ubuntu/linux-gcp, ubuntu/linux-aws-fips, ubuntu/linux-azure-fips, and ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips.
What malformed input is relevant to exploitation?
An ERROR chunk containing a STALE_COOKIE cause with a length of only the 4-byte cause header lacks the required Measure of Staleness field. In the vulnerable path, the kernel can read beyond that cause, including past the skb tail for a minimal ERROR chunk, and echo the value in a reply INIT Cookie Preservative.