CVE-2026-53091 net: pull headers in qdisc_pkt_len_segs_init()
A missing header pull in Linux kernel qdisc handling allows malicious GSO packets to cause memory corruption or crashes.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-53091?
CVE-2026-53091 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 24 Jun 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net: pull headers in qdisc_pkt_len_segs_init()
Most ndo_start_xmit() methods expects headers of gso packets to be already in skb->head.
net/core/tso.c users are particularly at risk, because tso_build_hdr() does a memcpy(hdr, skb->data, hdr_len);
qdisc_pkt_len_segs_init() already does a dissection of gso packets.
Use pskb_may_pull() instead of skb_header_pointer() to make sure drivers do not have to reimplement this.
Some malicious packets could be fed, detect them so that we can drop them sooner with a new SKB_DROP_REASON_SKB_BAD_GSO drop_reason.
Weakness: CWE-131
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-53091?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2026-53091?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.
Is CVE-2026-53091 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-53091 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as AZL-90438, BELL-CVE-2026-53091, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-53091, GHSA-mjfm-6cr9-5cqx, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2026-53091, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2026-53091 and 4 more.