---
title: "CVE-2026-97957: Linux kernel hinic - Buffer Overflow"
description: "Linux kernel hinic driver contains a heap buffer overflow caused by improper validation of mailbox segment length in check_mbox_seq_id_and_seg_len(), letting attackers cause memory corruption remotely, exploit requires crafted mailbox messages."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-97957/
---

# CVE-2026-97957 Linux kernel hinic - Buffer Overflow

Linux kernel hinic driver contains a heap buffer overflow caused by improper validation of mailbox segment length in check\_mbox\_seq\_id\_and\_seg\_len(), letting attackers cause memory corruption remotely, exploit requires crafted mailbox messages.

CVSS base score 8.8 /10

High

CISA KEV

Not listed

Public exploit

None known

Authentication

Required

EPSS

0.14% chance of exploitation in 30 days

[View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97957)

## Details

Type

Buffer Overflow

Impact

Denial Of Service, Remote Code Execution

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Published

25 September 2026

Updated

15 October 2026

## Vendor fix

Update to the Linux kernel version with the hinic driver fix that properly validates mailbox segment length.

Patching closes this CVE. It does not tell you which of your systems run the affected version, or what else is exposed alongside them.

## References

- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97957](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97957)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/eca54a092d5f7b497b458ff5a6f66d4f7bfb6674](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/eca54a092d5f7b497b458ff5a6f66d4f7bfb6674)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/72be1fd5d256dde748c0905c5e1749a119cad5bd](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/72be1fd5d256dde748c0905c5e1749a119cad5bd)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7cc974799fde846eda2d8f00ad4f8e1810eb0499](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7cc974799fde846eda2d8f00ad4f8e1810eb0499)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8de1e23bd91fe3a6683e4bc574e2d6bcb0eef920](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8de1e23bd91fe3a6683e4bc574e2d6bcb0eef920)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c622bbc212207d7c6bbd69dd88f0c3a3f5853d16](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c622bbc212207d7c6bbd69dd88f0c3a3f5853d16)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/513f7b16ed0cffae9348151c72bed17c7073096f](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/513f7b16ed0cffae9348151c72bed17c7073096f)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5d4d985957434867bbe85e4fa5e638f3e48ad522](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5d4d985957434867bbe85e4fa5e638f3e48ad522)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9f6ad383901d0cb1c8ea5f7f3160fabfe1540eb5](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9f6ad383901d0cb1c8ea5f7f3160fabfe1540eb5)

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## What this record can't tell you

- Whether you run the affected software, and where
- Whether an attacker can actually reach and exploit it
- The misconfigurations that never get a CVE number
- What it would cost the business, ranked into what to fix first

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