Linux Kernel: security vulnerability (CVE-2026-98592)
Published Last modified Sources: BSI, Msrc Update Guide, CVE.org
What is affected, what to do
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: spacemit: clear TX descriptor on fragment mapping failure emac_tx_mem_map() writes TX_DESC_0_OWN into the ring descriptor for every slot beyond old_head as soon as that slot's memset()'d local copy is committed with "*tx_desc_addr = tx_desc", i.e. before the buffers for that slot have necessarily all been mapped successfully. If emac_tx_map_frag() then fails on a later fragment, the err_free_skb path calls emac_free_tx_buf() to unmap and drop the skb, but leaves the already-written descriptor memory untouched, and tx_ring->head is never advanced past old_head (the "tx_ring->head = head" store is skipped by the goto).
Update Linux Kernel to version 6.18.55, Linux Kernel to version 7.2.9, Linux Kernel to version 7.3.
- Affected
- Linux Kernel
lt 6.18..6.18.55 - Linux Kernel
lt 6.19..7.2.9
- Linux Kernel
- Fixed in
- Linux Kernel
6.18.55 - Linux Kernel
7.2.9 - Linux Kernel
7.3
- Linux Kernel
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Metrics
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Priority
No value is available for this vulnerability.
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CVSS v3
No value is available for this vulnerability.
0.2 %
EPSS score
Low — model estimates < 1% exploitation likelihood.
Source: FIRST EPSS, percentile 9.6
Show all metrics
- Severity
- Not rated
Priority (0–325)
The priority score is a consolidated metric that condenses several individual signals into a single, action-guiding ranking: technical severity (CVSS), exploitation likelihood (EPSS), known-exploited status (KEV) and the context of the affected asset. The aim is to answer the only truly important question in vulnerability management: what first?
Read in glossary- 30.74 Methodology
Exploit maturity
An exploit is code or a technique that specifically uses a concrete vulnerability to force unintended behaviour — such as executing code or escalating privileges. It is the tool that turns a theoretical flaw into a practical attack.
Read in glossary- no public PoC known
EPSS score
The EPSS score is the absolute model output for an individual vulnerability: the estimated probability of real-world exploitation within the next 30 days, expressed as a value between 0 and 1 (i.e. 0 % to 100 %). A score of 0.42 means „the model estimates a 42 % chance of real-world exploitation within 30 days“.
Read in glossary- 0.2 %
- Low — model estimates < 1% exploitation likelihood.
EPSS percentile
The EPSS percentile is the relative position of a vulnerability within all EPSS-scored CVEs, expressed as a value between 0 and 1. A percentile of 0.90 means „this CVE has a higher EPSS score than 90 % of all other scored CVEs“. Unlike the EPSS score, it is not a probability — but a positioning within a ranking.
Read in glossary- 9.6
- Low — this CVE sits in the lower 10% of all CVEs scored today.
KEV status
The KEV catalogue is a list maintained by the US authority CISA of vulnerabilities for which active exploitation in the wild has been confirmed. It answers not the question „how severe?“ but „is it already being attacked?“ — thereby sharply prioritising patching.
Read in glossary- —
- Published
Detection rules
No NEOSEC detection rule is available for this vulnerability yet.
Classification under NIS2 and CRA
Rule-based classification from exploitation status and severity. It does not replace a case-by-case assessment.
NIS2
NIS2 is EU Directive (EU) 2022/2555 to raise the level of cybersecurity across the Union. It substantially broadens obligations compared with the first NIS directive: more sectors, mandatory risk management, staged reporting duties and personal accountability of senior management.
Read in glossary- Handle the vulnerability in regular vulnerability handling under Art. 21(2)(e) NIS2.
CRA
The CRA is EU Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 setting horizontal cybersecurity requirements for „products with digital elements“ — from industrial controllers and software to connected consumer devices. For the first time manufacturers must ensure security across the entire product lifecycle, handle vulnerabilities and provide security updates.
Read in glossary- From 11.12.2027, Annex I Part II CRA requires manufacturers of affected products with digital elements to handle vulnerabilities without delay and provide security updates.
ISO/IEC 27001
ISO/IEC 27001 is the internationally leading standard for an information security management system (ISMS). It describes a risk-based, process-oriented framework to systematically plan, implement, review and improve information security.
Read in glossary- Control A.8.8, management of technical vulnerabilities: assess relevance to your systems, plan remediation and keep evidence.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: spacemit: clear TX descriptor on fragment mapping failure emac_tx_mem_map() writes TX_DESC_0_OWN into the ring descriptor for every slot beyond old_head as soon as that slot's memset()'d local copy is committed with "*tx_desc_addr = tx_desc", i.e. before the buffers for that slot have necessarily all been mapped successfully. If emac_tx_map_frag() then fails on a later fragment, the err_free_skb path calls emac_free_tx_buf() to unmap and drop the skb, but leaves the already-written descriptor memory untouched, and tx_ring->head is never advanced past old_head (the "tx_ring->head = head" store is skipped by the goto). So a slot between old_head and the rolled-back head can be left with TX_DESC_0_OWN set and buffer_addr_{1,2} pointing at DMA mappings that emac_free_tx_buf() just tore down, while software considers that slot free again. The next successful emac_tx_mem_map() call only rebuilds old_head itself; if the DMA engine auto-advances into the following descriptor once it finishes old_head's packet, it will fetch that stale, already-unmapped address. emac_tx_clean_desc() already treats emac_free_tx_buf() and clearing the descriptor as a pair when reclaiming completed descriptors; do the same in the mapping failure path.
Source: BSI WID Portal, BSI CSAF, Microsoft Security Update Guide, cvelistv5, NVD (NIST)
Affected products
The following versions are affected. Older releases of the same product line are also vulnerable unless stated otherwise.
| Affected versions | Fixed in | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux |
|
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Vendors and products
References & sources
- git.kernel.orgstable/c/2d14720beb58870b15a52b236c3ab0be0e06e915
- git.kernel.orgstable/c/3001a103a367c6051c43aff363b6979c10e65347
- git.kernel.orgstable/c/ca9986cc824f2feb79b4a83e5f6f4c24c2140448
Changes to this CVE
Who changed this CVE and when: NVD (analysis, affected products, CVSS), the CVE publisher (CNA) and additional providers such as CISA (ADP).
Record modifiedLinux
1 individual change: Affected versions (publisher)
Show the original change
Individual changes of this event as published by NVD Type Action Before After Affected versions (publisher) added —Affected value modified. <a href="https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/blob/main/cves/2026/98xxx/CVE-2026-98592.json">CVE-2026-98592</a>Source identifier: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
ReceivedLinux
Description added or changed
Show 5 original changes
Individual changes of this event as published by NVD Type Action Before After Description added —In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: spacemit: clear TX descriptor on fragment mapping failure emac_tx_mem_map() writes TX_DESC_0_OWN into the ring descriptor for every slot beyond old_head as soon as that slot's memset()'d local copy is committed with "*tx_desc_addr = tx_desc", i.e. before the buffers for that slot have necessarily all been mapped successfully. If emac_tx_map_frag() then fails on a later fragment, the err_free_skb path calls emac_free_tx_buf() to unmap and drop the skb, but leaves the already-written descriptor memory untouched, and tx_ring->head is never advanced past old_head (the "tx_ring->head = head" store is skipped by the goto). So a slot between old_head and the rolled-back head can be left with TX_DESC_0_OWN set and buffer_addr_{1,2} pointing at DMA mappings that emac_free_tx_buf() just tore down, while software considers that slot free again. The next successful emac_tx_mem_map() call only rebuilds old_head itself; if the DMA engine auto-advances into the following descriptor once it finishes old_head's packet, it will fetch that stale, already-unmapped address. emac_tx_clean_desc() already treats emac_free_tx_buf() and clearing the descriptor as a pair when reclaiming completed descriptors; do the same in the mapping failure path.Affected versions (publisher) added —New affected value received. <a href="https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/blob/main/cves/2026/98xxx/CVE-2026-98592.json">CVE-2026-98592</a>Reference added —https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2d14720beb58870b15a52b236c3ab0be0e06e915Reference added —https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3001a103a367c6051c43aff363b6979c10e65347Reference added —https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ca9986cc824f2feb79b4a83e5f6f4c24c2140448Source identifier: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
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<a href="https://intel.neosec.eu/en/cve/CVE-2026-98592"><img src="https://intel.neosec.eu/badge/cve/CVE-2026-98592.svg?lang=en" alt="CVE-2026-98592 – NEOSEC Intel" height="20"></a>