---
title: "CVE-2026-98229: CVE-2026-98229"
description: "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfrm: save input state data before secpath resets xfrm_input() stores the current xfrm_state in the skb secpath while it continues receive-side processing. Some input paths can reset that secpath before xfrm_input() has finished dereferencing the state. Receive callback users such as VTI and XFRM interfaces can reset the secpath. The VTI receive path does so before checking whether the packet crosses network namespaces, while the XFRM interface path does so only for cross-network-namespace packets. The XFRM_MAX_DEPTH error path can also reset the secpath before the final drop callback reports the current state's protocol. If secpath_reset() drops the last state reference while the state is concurrently deleted, xfrm_input() can still dereference the freed state when selecting transport_finish() or reporting the drop callback protocol. Save the state protocol on the stack while the state is still valid, and use the already saved address family for transport_finish(). A larval XFRM_STATE_ACQ state has no type, so retain nexthdr as its protocol. This preserves the existing drop-path fallback while avoiding the post-reset state dereferences without adding an extra state reference to every received packet."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-98229/
---

# CVE-2026-98229 CVE-2026-98229

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfrm: save input state data before secpath resets xfrm\_input() stores the current xfrm\_state in the skb secpath while it continues receive-side processing. Some input paths can reset that secpath before xfrm\_input() has finished dereferencing the state. Receive callback users such as VTI and XFRM interfaces can reset the secpath. The VTI receive path does so before checking whether the packet crosses network namespaces, while the XFRM interface path does so only for cross-network-namespace packets. The XFRM\_MAX\_DEPTH error path can also reset the secpath before the final drop callback reports the current state's protocol. If secpath\_reset() drops the last state reference while the state is concurrently deleted, xfrm\_input() can still dereference the freed state when selecting transport\_finish() or reporting the drop callback protocol. Save the state protocol on the stack while the state is still valid, and use the already saved address family for transport\_finish(). A larval XFRM\_STATE\_ACQ state has no type, so retain nexthdr as its protocol. This preserves the existing drop-path fallback while avoiding the post-reset state dereferences without adding an extra state reference to every received packet.

CVSS base score 7.8 /10

High

CISA KEV

Not listed

Public exploit

None known

EPSS

0.16% chance of exploitation in 30 days

[View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98229)

## Details

CVSS vector

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

Published

6 October 2026

Updated

15 October 2026

## References

- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98229](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98229)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/148db154066b066616b82c12d373e786eba1f96a](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/148db154066b066616b82c12d373e786eba1f96a)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/35de97850987b3d022ed17df5b2577242e746daf](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/35de97850987b3d022ed17df5b2577242e746daf)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3cf5cdecd99c9c186a5ea518d93bbf3045b6e3aa](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3cf5cdecd99c9c186a5ea518d93bbf3045b6e3aa)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/537a5ae18b2be70f8eb0aca843682e81a69aab91](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/537a5ae18b2be70f8eb0aca843682e81a69aab91)

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