CVE-2026-22998
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nvme-tcp: fix NULL pointer dereferences in nvmet_tcp_build_pdu_iovec Commit efa56305908b ("nvmet-tcp: Fix a kernel panic when host sends an invalid H2C PDU length") added ttag bounds…
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (0.72%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nvme-tcp: fix NULL pointer dereferences in nvmet_tcp_build_pdu_iovec Commit efa56305908b ("nvmet-tcp: Fix a kernel panic when host sends an invalid H2C PDU length") added ttag bounds checking and data_offset validation in nvmet_tcp_handle_h2c_data_pdu(), but it did not validate whether the command's data structures (cmd->req.sg and cmd->iov) have been properly initialized before processing H2C_DATA PDUs. The nvmet_tcp_build_pdu_iovec() function dereferences these pointers without NULL checks. This can be triggered by sending H2C_DATA PDU immediately after the ICREQ/ICRESP handshake, before sending a CONNECT command or NVMe write command. Attack vectors that trigger NULL pointer dereferences: 1. H2C_DATA PDU sent before CONNECT → both pointers NULL 2. H2C_DATA PDU for READ command → cmd->req.sg allocated, cmd->iov NULL 3. H2C_DATA PDU for uninitialized command slot → both pointers NULL The fix validates both cmd->req.sg and cmd->iov before calling nvmet_tcp_build_pdu_iovec(). Both checks are required because: - Uninitialized commands: both NULL - READ commands: cmd->req.sg allocated, cmd->iov NULL - WRITE commands: both allocated
- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- EPSS
- 0.72% probability · 52th percentile
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-476
- Affected
- linux/linux kernel
- Source
- 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/32b63acd78f577b332d976aa06b56e70d054cbbaPatch
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/374b095e265fa27465f34780e0eb162ff1bef913Patch
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3def5243150716be86599c2a1767c29c68838b6dPatch
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/76abc83a9d25593c2b7613c549413079c14a4686Patch
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7d75570002929d20e40110d6b03e46202c9d1bc7Patch
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/baabe43a0edefac8cd7b981ff87f967f6034dafePatch
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fdecd3b6aac10d5a18d0dc500fe57f8648b66cd4Patch
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA. Refreshed daily.