CVE-2026-98526 llc: reserve device headroom for allocated frames
A Linux kernel LLC frame allocation flaw allows attackers to cause headroom underflow, potentially leading to memory corruption or denial of service.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-98526?
CVE-2026-98526 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Linux, published on 18 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:
llc: reserve device headroom for allocated frames
llc_alloc_frame() reserves link-layer headroom using the device type. This is insufficient for stacked Ethernet devices such as VLAN devices, where vlan_dev_hard_header() pushes a VLAN header before the lower device's Ethernet header. An LLC response on such a device can therefore underflow skb headroom in eth_header().
Use LL_RESERVED_SPACE() to account for the device's actual required headroom while preserving the existing LLC device-type check.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-98526?
How do I fix CVE-2026-98526?
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-2026-98526 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-98526 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-108584, BELL-CVE-2026-98526, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-98526, GHSA-cxpq-4fh3-6276, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-98526.