CVE-2026-98022: Linux kernel · net: cap tx_queue_len at S16_MAX to prevent oversized ring allocations
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 16:39 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 7% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Exploitation 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 caps tx_queue_len at S16_MAX (32767) to prevent oversized ring allocations. Systems should apply the updated Linux kernel that includes this fix. The cap rejects invalid tx_queue_len values at set time via all interfaces, preventing exploitation. No additional mitigation is required once the patch is applied.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's network subsystem allowed unprivileged users in a user and network namespace to set an excessively large tx_queue_len value, leading to oversized ring buffer allocations and potential exhaustion of global memory. This was due to missing upper bounds on tx_queue_len in several subsystems such as pfifo_fast, tun, and tap. The issue was fixed by capping tx_queue_len at S16_MAX (32767) to reject oversized values at set time, preventing memory exhaustion.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-98022 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98022 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/081340cf70a789b94b4174af54a63ffd49677a4e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a03b927bae4af5c23fd5315a237855c17cc8f422 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/66ab4c59b74db7ab53a1c9083feaaede393a96a0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/81c0e02076989743a603806a5a4f44d2c40dc01f (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98022 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/24d02c909a1725ab9eceb92db7d02e4e841f17ca (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5e5591a0f33f7c11bf1d338dbb6c5072575de64c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c2362c500931e5bd1826bce34e9ce28af80e7541 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c8d4060610c69645733c92d94fceb4b93808ac4d (opens in a new tab)