CVE-2026-98222 KEYS: encrypted: fix integer overflow of datablob_len
An integer overflow in the Linux kernel encrypted key subsystem allows local attackers to trigger a slab-out-of-bounds write, potentially leading to code execution or privilege escalation.
- 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-2026-98222?
CVE-2026-98222 is a vulnerability in Linux, published on 6 Oct 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:
KEYS: encrypted: fix integer overflow of datablob_len
encrypted_key_alloc() stores datablob_len in a u16. It is computed from multiple string and payload lengths. If the result exceeds U16_MAX, the assignment truncates the allocation size. KASAN reports a 32760-byte slab-out-of-bounds write when __ekey_init() copies the master key description into the undersized buffer.
The total payload length stored in key->datalen is also a u16. Use check_add_overflow() to reject values that do not fit either destination, and use kzalloc_flex() for the flexible-array allocation.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-98222?
How do I fix CVE-2026-98222?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2026-98222 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-98222 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-106092, BELL-CVE-2026-98222, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98222, GHSA-8jg9-f732-244h, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-98222.