CVE-2026-64450·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tipc: fix out-of-bounds read in broadcast Gap ACK blocks A broadcast PROTOCOL/STATE_MSG can carry a Gap ACK blocks record in its data area. tipc_get_gap_ack_blks() only verifies that the record's len field is self-consistent with its ugack_cnt/bgack_cnt counts (sz == struct_size(p, gacks, ugack_cnt + bgack_cnt)); it does not check that the record actually fits in the message data area, msg_data_sz(). The unicast caller tipc_link_proto_rcv() bounds it ("if (glen > dlen) break;"), but the broadcast caller tipc_bcast_sync_rcv() discards the returned size, so tipc_link_advance_transmq() copies the record off the receive skb with an attacker-controlled count: this_ga = kmemdup(ga, struct_size(ga, gacks, ga->bgack_cnt), GFP_ATOMIC); A TIPC neighbour that negotiated TIPC_GAP_ACK_BLOCK triggers it with one ordinary broadcast STATE_MSG (msg_bc_ack_invalid() clear), sized so its data area is short, carrying a Gap ACK record with len = 0x400, bgack_cnt = 0xff and ugack_cnt = 0. len then equals struct_size(p, gacks, 255), so the consistency check passes and ga is non-NULL; kmemdup() reads struct_size(ga, gacks, 255) = 1024 bytes out of the much smaller skb: BUG: KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds in kmemdup_noprof+0x48/0x60 Read of size 1024 at addr ffff0000c7030d38 by task poc864/69 Call trace: kmemdup_noprof+0x48/0x60 tipc_link_advance_transmq+0x86c/0xb80 tipc_link_bc_ack_rcv+0x19c/0x1e0 tipc_bcast_sync_rcv+0x1c4/0x2c4 tipc_rcv+0x85c/0x1340 tipc_l2_rcv_msg+0xac/0x104 The buggy address belongs to the object at ffff0000c7030d00 which belongs to the cache skbuff_small_head of size 704 The buggy address is located 56 bytes inside of allocated 704-byte region [ffff0000c7030d00, ffff0000c7030fc0) The copied-out bytes are subsequently consumed as gap/ack values, but the read is already out of bounds at the kmemdup() regardless of how they are used. The unicast STATE path drops such a message: "if (glen > dlen) break;" skips the rest of STATE_MSG handling and the skb is freed. Make the broadcast path drop it too. tipc_bcast_sync_rcv() now bounds the record against msg_data_sz() and, when it does not fit, reports it back through tipc_node_bc_sync_rcv() to tipc_rcv() so the skb is discarded rather than processed. ga is not cleared on this path: ga == NULL already means "legacy peer without Selective ACK", a distinct legitimate state.
- Severity
- critical
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 7.1.4
- Published
- 2026-07-25
Affected versions
From: 6.19
Until: 7.1.4
Fixed in: 7.1.4
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 7.1.4 or later to patch a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the TIPC broadcast protocol handler. This flaw allows remote attackers to read arbitrary kernel memory by sending specially crafted broadcast STATE messages. Apply the kernel update and reboot your system at your earliest convenience to mitigate this high-severity issue.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-devel && sudo rebootDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Check current kernel version: uname -r | awk -F. '{print $1"."$2"."$3}'
- Verify if TIPC module is loaded: lsmod | grep tipc (if output exists, TIPC is enabled and this system is potentially vulnerable)
- Search kernel logs for KASAN errors related to TIPC: sudo dmesg | grep -i 'kasan.*tipc\|tipc.*out.*bounds'
- Confirm kernel version is 7.1.4 or later after patching: uname -r and verify the returned version matches or exceeds 7.1.4
FAQ
What is CVE-2026-64450?
This vulnerability is a memory read bounds-check bypass in the Linux kernel's TIPC (Transparent Inter-Process Communication) broadcast protocol handler. An attacker can craft a malicious broadcast STATE message with an oversized Gap ACK block field to trigger an out-of-bounds read of up to 1024 bytes from kernel memory.
Is CVE-2026-64450 being actively exploited?
No, this vulnerability is not currently listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog and no public exploits are available, though proof-of-concept code has been discussed in kernel mailing lists.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2026-64450?
Linux kernel versions 6.19 through 7.1.3 are vulnerable. Kernel 7.1.4 and later contain the fix.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2026-64450?
Run `uname -r` to get your kernel version. If the version is between 6.19 and 7.1.3 inclusive, and TIPC is enabled (check with `lsmod | grep tipc`), your system is vulnerable.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2026-64450?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If Kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2026-64450 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/016f5995c37a5a2c45198308f830f244517d70b7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/055663d21dc4336f67933ab26bef3c5934be6324
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2b66974a1b6134a4bbc3bfed181f7418f688eb54
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2de42e268174766cb2e2b90721afdfdff70e0d8d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/74b45af86a767594ba52330cd440ea84e24d700d
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