CVE-2026-64551: Linux kernel · sctp: validate STALE_COOKIE cause length before reading staleness
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.1 Critical · fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel as a priority.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.5% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 43% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1123.132~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1122.131~20.04.1 +57
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 27 Jul 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.
AI-suggested
A patch is available and should be applied to affected Linux kernel versions to properly validate the STALE_COOKIE cause length before reading the Measure of Staleness field. The vendor advisory from Ubuntu confirms that this issue is fixed in updated kernel packages. Systems running affected versions should upgrade to the patched kernel releases as soon as possible to mitigate this vulnerability.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel SCTP implementation allows reading uninitialized memory when processing an ERROR chunk with a STALE_COOKIE cause in the COOKIE_ECHOED state. This occurs due to improper validation of the STALE_COOKIE cause length before reading the Measure of Staleness field, potentially leaking kernel memory to a remote attacker. The flaw affects specific Linux kernel versions and has been assigned CVE-2026-64551 with a high CVSS score of 9.1. A patch is available to properly validate the cause length and prevent out-of-bounds reads.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-64551 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-64551 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/1cd23ca80784223fa2204e16203f754da4e821f8 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8781-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8816-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8816-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8816-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8816-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8876-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8878-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8879-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8877-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8875-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8888-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8888-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8875-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8917-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8918-1 (opens in a new tab)