CVE-2026-53224: Linux kernel · sctp: validate embedded INIT chunk and address list lengths in cookie
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.1 Critical · fixed in 3.13.0-217.268 : patch Linux kernel as a priority.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.5% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 44% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 3.13.0-217.268, 4.4.0-1158.164, 4.15.0-1206.221~14.04.1 +120
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 25 Jun 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sctp: validate embedded INIT chunk and address list lengths in cookie sctp_unpack_cookie() only checked that the embedded INIT chunk length did not exceed the remaining cookie payload, but did not ensure that the INIT chunk is large enough to contain a complete INIT header. A malformed COOKIE_ECHO can therefore carry a truncated INIT chunk whose length field is smaller than sizeof(struct sctp_init_chunk). Later, sctp_process_init() accesses INIT parameters unconditionally, which may lead to out-of-bounds reads. In addition, raw_addr_list_len is not fully validated against the remaining cookie payload. When cookie authentication is disabled, an attacker can supply an oversized raw_addr_list_len and cause sctp_raw_to_bind_addrs() to read beyond the end of the cookie. The address parser also lacks sufficient bounds checks for parameter headers and lengths, allowing malformed address parameters to trigger out-of-bounds reads. Fix this by: - requiring the embedded INIT chunk length to be at least sizeof(struct sctp_init_chunk); - validating that the INIT chunk and raw address list together fit within the cookie payload; - verifying sufficient data exists for each address parameter header and payload before parsing it. Note that sctp_verify_init() must be called after sctp_unpack_cookie() and before sctp_process_init() when cookie authentication is disabled. This will be addressed in a separate patch.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-53224 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-53224 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/6f4c80a2a7e6d06753b89a578b710a2499a5e62b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/512a9bb77c04ac9927648ea58af617e472be96e6 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6f4c80a2a7e6d06753b89a578b710a2499a5e62b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7560afb8cddafd829e709d7ea09230e45a825557 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8629-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8637-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8629-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8643-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8644-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8645-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8646-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8629-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8658-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-53246 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-64531 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8656-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8643-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8658-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8660-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8661-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8644-2 (opens in a new tab)
- suse.com/support/security/rating/ (opens in a new tab)
- ftp.suse.com/pub/projects/security/csaf/suse-su-2026_3819-1.json (opens in a new tab)
- suse.com/support/update/announcement/2026/suse-su-20263819-1/ (opens in a new tab)
- lists.suse.com/pipermail/sle-security-updates/2026-August/028597.html (opens in a new tab)
- bugzilla.suse.com/1270023 (opens in a new tab)
- bugzilla.suse.com/1270024 (opens in a new tab)
- bugzilla.suse.com/1271543 (opens in a new tab)
- bugzilla.suse.com/1271867 (opens in a new tab)
- suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-53224/ (opens in a new tab)
- suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-53246/ (opens in a new tab)
- suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-64530/ (opens in a new tab)
- suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-64600/ (opens in a new tab)