CVE-2026-98401: Linux kernel · net: iptunnel: fix stale transport header during tunnel decapsulation
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.5 High · fixed in e4a5b01e59f7102169762b8f566c8e052d05c0ff : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 15:59 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.5% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 48% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in e4a5b01e59f7102169762b8f566c8e052d05c0ff, 3340b8565b85631cfeb0df049e8b46e3ef8bd7bd, 28a57fb2c5df4deb42a06e52fd36c14b37aa0034 +1
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 14 Oct 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 Linux kernel to e4a5b01e59f7102169762b8f566c8e052d05c0ff, 3340b8565b85631cfeb0df049e8b46e3ef8bd7bd, 28a57fb2c5df4deb42a06e52fd36c14b37aa0034 or 8c3d4dfcecf7670c1d752f1ae74b21b2af5feac1.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
A fix for this vulnerability is available and has been applied in multiple Linux kernel commits. Users and administrators should update to a Linux kernel version that includes these fixes. No additional mitigation is required beyond applying the official patch. There is no indication of active exploitation in the wild.
Description
CVE-2026-98401 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel's iptunnel component. It involves a stale transport header offset during tunnel decapsulation that can cause a kernel crash due to a page fault. The issue arises when encapsulated packets with GSO metadata are decapsulated but the transport header offset is not properly reset, leading to invalid memory access during packet processing. This flaw was fixed by clearing the transport header offset in the GRO cell for all tunnel drivers and dropping GSO packets in GTP which does not support GRO/GSO.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8c3d4dfcecf7670c1d752f1ae74b21b2af5feac1 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e4a5b01e59f7102169762b8f566c8e052d05c0ff (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3340b8565b85631cfeb0df049e8b46e3ef8bd7bd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/28a57fb2c5df4deb42a06e52fd36c14b37aa0034 (opens in a new tab)