CVE-2026-97612: Linux kernel · net: mpls: clear inner_protocol when the last label is popped
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 6% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 25 Sep 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
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 fix is available that clears the inner_protocol field when the last MPLS label is popped, preventing stale header offsets from persisting. Users should apply the official Linux kernel patches that address this issue. Since this is a kernel-level vulnerability, updating to a patched kernel version is the recommended remediation. Patch status is not explicitly stated in the input data; therefore, check the vendor advisory or Linux kernel mailing lists for the official fixed versions and apply updates accordingly.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's MPLS networking code allows stale inner network header information to persist after MPLS labels are popped. This can lead to out-of-bounds memory access and kernel crashes when Open vSwitch re-pushes MPLS labels on packets with outdated header offsets. The issue arises because skb_mpls_pop() does not clear the inner_protocol field, causing subsequent operations to use invalid offsets. This flaw has been resolved by clearing inner_protocol when the last MPLS label is removed.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-97612 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-97612 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/78a86d75a70e1e227711c72865c59b1422d0a5ae (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/011e17b5cae19b9f6a150923275e41c278de64f0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/da8c3a7f5d3137fec4ff60a6248f5f6d66b6a63e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b39120523475d6b436be7f6cb27d48064148a327 (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97612 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0b3425fd0ecd515997956f7bb8a8a576b444ed64 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/38db09804b2616aa1e2fcdf97f0c3ae8b9dbdd34 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/55ed97db27bffe29c21fdefd5d25601322c36ff8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/833ec2788322306407503b4cfc7745cd1f9d785f (opens in a new tab)